Brown Eared-pheasant vs Indian Peafowl
Crossoptilon mantchuricum compared with Pavo cristatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Eared-pheasant | Indian Peafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon mantchuricum | Pavo cristatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 58.2 cm (22.9 in) | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) |
| Weight | 1900.0 g (67.02 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Digs in soil for bulbs, tubers, and invertebrates; also takes seeds, berries, and green vegetation. | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 4-14 | 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
Brown Eared-pheasant
Raucous 'kak-kak-KAAK' calls; similar to White Eared-pheasant but slightly lower; endemic to NE China. Flock communication is loud and sustained. Alarm a series of sharp barks; wing beats very 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
Brown Eared-pheasant
Endemic to coniferous and mixed forest on mountains in Hebei and Shanxi provinces of northern China, at 1,400–2,900 m; critically restricted range.
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Conservation Status
Brown Eared-pheasant
Indian Peafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Eared-pheasant
Warm chocolate-brown body with paler buff-white tail graduating to dark brown tips; black crown; white ear tufts; brownish flight feathers; scarlet facial skin; whitish lower rump contrasts with brown back.
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
Brown Eared-pheasant
A robust Phasianidae pheasant (~1.9 kg) endemic to montane broadleaf and mixed forests of northeastern China. Chocolate-brown with white ear tufts and a white rump. Forms flocks that forage on roots, seeds, and invertebrates. Historically reduced by hunting; conservation efforts have stabilised populations. 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.