Indian Peafowl vs Crested Francolin
Pavo cristatus compared with Ortygornis sephaena
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Crested Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Ortygornis sephaena |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) | — |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 336.75 g (11.88 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in African savanna and dry scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 3-9 |
| 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.
Crested Francolin
Loud, insistent 'beer-and-cognac' or 'krrrr-KI-KI' calls repeated incessantly at dawn; African savanna species. Alarm is rapid cackling when flushed. Often runs with cocked tail before taking flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Crested Francolin
Resident of dry acacia scrub, woodland, and savanna from Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa and west to Senegal.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Crested Francolin
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
Crested Francolin
Dark brown above with buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; dark brown cap with slight crest often held raised; white supercilium; rufous tail; red legs. Sexes …
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.
Crested Francolin
A small Phasianidae francolin (~337 g) of thornbush, riverine thickets, and dry woodland across sub-Saharan East and southern Africa. Named for the male's distinctive raised crest. Loud, repetitive calls at dusk are characteristic. Feeds on seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Common in suitable scrubby habitat; Least Concern.