Indian Peafowl vs Himalayan Quail
Pavo cristatus compared with Ophrysia superciliosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Himalayan Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Ophrysia superciliosa |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) | 17.6 cm (6.9 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 189.7 g (6.69 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 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
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.
Himalayan Quail
Almost certainly extinct; last recorded 1876. Historical accounts describe 'plaintive whistled calls' from Himalayan hill grass. No recordings exist. Likely soft high whistle like other hill quail.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Himalayan Quail
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Himalayan Quail
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Himalayan Quail
Male dark grey with white spots and streaks; bold white supercilium; red bill. Female pale brownish-buff with dark brown streaking; pale supercilium. Last confirmed 1876; presumed possibly extinct; Uttarakhand hills.
About These Birds
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.
Himalayan Quail
One of the world's most elusive birds, this Phasianidae quail (~190 g) is last confirmed from the western Himalayas in 1876 and may be extinct. A medium-sized quail of steep grassy hill slopes with a distinctive red bill. Presumed to feed on grass seeds. Critically Endangered; possibly extinct.