Dusky Grouse vs Indian Peafowl
Dendragapus obscurus compared with Pavo cristatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dusky Grouse | Indian Peafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendragapus obscurus | Pavo cristatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 45.3 cm (17.8 in) | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) |
| Weight | 1118.0 g (39.44 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Eats conifer needles, especially fir and pine, in winter; berries, leaves, and invertebrates in summer. … | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 4-10 | 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
Dusky Grouse
Low, deep hooting 'hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo' by males from conifer branches; ventriloquial and owl-like. Alarm is a sharp series of 'kuk-kuk' clucks. Female produces soft clucking contact notes.
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
Dusky Grouse
Resident in the Rocky Mountains and coastal ranges of western North America from British Columbia south to New Mexico at 1,000-3,500 m.
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Conservation Status
Dusky Grouse
Indian Peafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Dusky Grouse
Male dark greyish-brown overall; pale grey tail with broad grey terminal band; yellow-orange eye-comb; bare yellow-purple neck air sacs visible in display. Female mottled brown and buff with darker barring.
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
Dusky Grouse
A large grouse (~1.1 kg) of family Phasianidae, males dark grey with yellow-orange eyecomb and inflatable violet neck sacs. Inhabits montane coniferous forests in the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to New Mexico. Feeds on conifer needles in winter, berries and insects in summer. Exhibits elevational migration. Least Concern; common in western North American mountain forests.
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.