Red Junglefowl vs Indian Peafowl
Gallus gallus compared with Pavo cristatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red Junglefowl | Indian Peafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus | Pavo cristatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 43.6 cm (17.2 in) | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) |
| Weight | 914.25 g (32.25 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous ground forager; eats seeds, grains, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and plant material in SE Asian … | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 4-12 | 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
Red Junglefowl
Ancestor of domestic chicken; crowing 'cock-a-doo-DOOO' with fourth note cut short. Cluck, cackle, food calls, and alarm 'tak-tak-tak' in repertoire. Dominant male crows at dawn.
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
Red Junglefowl
Native to South and Southeast Asia from India east to southern China and the Philippines; ancestor of domestic chicken; widely feral worldwide.
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Conservation Status
Red Junglefowl
Indian Peafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Red Junglefowl
Male with iridescent red, orange, and golden hackles; black sickle-shaped tail with green gloss; red serrated comb and wattle. Female mottled brown; shorter tail; ancestor of domestic chicken breeds.
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
Red Junglefowl
The wild ancestor of all domestic chickens (~914 g), family Phasianidae, ranging across South and Southeast Asia. Males display orange-red hackles, glossy black tail sickles, and a bright red comb. Inhabits forest edges and secondary growth. Omnivorous; forages on seeds, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. 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.