Indian Peafowl vs Red-billed Spurfowl
Pavo cristatus compared with Pternistis adspersus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Red-billed Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Pternistis adspersus |
| 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) | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 466.0 g (16.44 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Omnivorous; feeds on seeds, berries, bulbs, invertebrates, and small animals in southern African savanna. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 4-10 |
| 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.
Red-billed Spurfowl
Loud, rasping 'krak-krak-KRAAK' calls from S African thorn scrub; slightly nasal quality. Red bill visible when calling. Alarm is explosive cackle. Pairs call in antiphonal duet at dawn.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Red-billed Spurfowl
Resident of dry woodland, savanna, and scrub in Botswana, Namibia, and adjacent South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Red-billed Spurfowl
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
Red-billed Spurfowl
Finely vermiculated brown and buff overall; pale buff underparts with dark brown blotching; conspicuous red bill; yellow orbital skin; yellow legs. Sexes similar; lacks streaked plumage of many spurfowl.
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.
Red-billed Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~466 g) of dry woodland, thornbush, and savanna in southern Africa from Angola to South Africa. Diagnostic red bill and yellow orbital ring. Pairs or small groups forage on seeds, bulbs, and invertebrates. Frequently encountered at waterholes in arid regions. Least Concern.