Tibetan Eared-pheasant vs Indian Peafowl
Crossoptilon harmani compared with Pavo cristatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tibetan Eared-pheasant | Indian Peafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon harmani | Pavo cristatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 56.4 cm (22.2 in) | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) |
| Weight | 1946.0 g (68.64 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Digs for tubers, bulbs, roots, and invertebrates on Tibetan plateau; also eats seeds and berries. | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 4-11 | 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
Tibetan Eared-pheasant
Loud, bugling 'GA-GA-GA' calls; raucous and crow-like resonating across Tibetan alpine meadows. Flocks maintain raucous calling. Alarm is a rapid series of loud honking notes; wing beats loud.
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
Tibetan Eared-pheasant
Endemic to alpine scrub and rhododendron thickets on the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent Himalayas in southeastern Tibet and Bhutan, at 3,000–4,500 m.
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Conservation Status
Tibetan Eared-pheasant
Indian Peafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Tibetan Eared-pheasant
Primarily whitish-grey with dark brown wings and back; black cap; white ear tufts projecting laterally; dark graduated tail with white-tipped central feathers; red facial skin. Sexes very similar.
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
Tibetan Eared-pheasant
A large Phasianidae pheasant (~1.95 kg) inhabiting alpine shrublands and forest edges on the Tibetan Plateau's southeastern rim. Greyish plumage with distinctive ear tufts. Gregarious; flocks forage on roots, tubers, and seeds. Tolerates cold extremes. Least Concern within its restricted Himalayan range.
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.