Blue Eared-pheasant vs Indian Peafowl
Crossoptilon auritum compared with Pavo cristatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue Eared-pheasant | Indian Peafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon auritum | Pavo cristatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 59.1 cm (23.3 in) | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) |
| Weight | 1785.0 g (62.96 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; digs for tubers, roots, and invertebrates; eats seeds, berries, and shoots in montane forests … | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 6-12 | 3-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Indian Peafowl
Open forests, farmland, and areas near water in the Indian subcontinent. Highly adaptable and common near human settlements.
Song & Call Comparison
Blue Eared-pheasant
Loud, resonant 'gaa-gaa-GAAK' calls with slight bugling quality; Sichuan-Qinghai mountain species. Flock communication noisy. Alarm is loud explosive barking; white ear tufts raised during calling.
Indian Peafowl
Loud, harsh, repetitive 'may-AWE' screaming call, audible over great distances. Display calls are a mewing 'aaaow'. Peacocks call persistently at dawn and before rain.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue Eared-pheasant
Resident of forest, scrub, and alpine meadow in central and eastern China (Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Shaanxi), at 2,000–4,000 m.
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Conservation Status
Blue Eared-pheasant
Indian Peafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue Eared-pheasant
Predominantly blue-grey with darker blue primaries; black crown; long white ear tufts; graduated tail with white bases and dark-tipped glossy black outer feathers; red facial skin. Sexes alike.
Indian Peafowl
Males (peacocks) have iridescent blue-green plumage and an enormous train of elongated upper tail coverts with eye-spots. Females (peahens) are brown and cryptically patterned.
Short, stout, greyish-horn bill
About These Birds
Blue Eared-pheasant
A large Phasianidae pheasant (~1.79 kg) of high coniferous and mixed forests in central China. Slate-blue plumage contrasts with crimson legs and long, drooping white ear tufts. Gregarious; flocks excavate roots and bulbs. Adapts to high elevations up to 4,000 m in summer. Least Concern.
Indian Peafowl
The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India and one of the most spectacular birds in the world. The peacock's enormous train, which can span over two meters, is used in elaborate courtship displays where the feathers are fanned and vibrated. Despite their size, peafowl can fly short distances and roost in tall trees.