Indian Peafowl vs Heuglin's Spurfowl
Pavo cristatus compared with Pternistis icterorhynchus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Heuglin's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Pternistis icterorhynchus |
| 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) | 33.6 cm (13.2 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 493.5 g (17.41 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Omnivorous; feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Sahelian savanna and dry woodland. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 6-8 |
| 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.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Boisterous crowing duet of harsh, staccato notes; 'wak-wak-wak' accelerating into a cackling climax; territorial calls carry far in savanna
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Resident of open woodland, savanna, and grassland from southern Sudan and South Sudan east to Ethiopia and west to Senegal.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Heuglin's 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
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; distinctive yellow-orange bill distinguishing it from red-billed spurfowl; yellow legs; red orbital skin. Sexes similar; Central …
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.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~494 g) of tall grass, woodland, and savanna margins in South Sudan, northern DRC, Uganda, and adjacent countries. Brown-streaked plumage; yellow bill is distinctive. Pairs or groups forage on seeds and invertebrates. Calls loudly at dawn; often near wetlands. Least Concern.