Indian Peafowl vs Swierstra's Spurfowl
Pavo cristatus compared with Pternistis swierstrai
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Swierstra's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Pternistis swierstrai |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 195.0 cm (76.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 160.0 cm (63.0 in) | 35.8 cm (14.1 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 470.0 g (16.58 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Omnivorous; eats seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Angolan Afromontane forest and grassland. |
| 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.
Swierstra's Spurfowl
Loud, emphatic 'krak-KRAK' calls from Angolan montane forest; medium-sized spurfowl with slightly nasal quality. Alarm is rapid cackling cackle. Pairs call in duet at dawn from forest understorey.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Swierstra's Spurfowl
Endemic to the highlands of central Angola (Huambo and Bié Plateaus); resident of montane grassland and open miombo woodland above 1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Swierstra'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
Swierstra's Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff streaks; white underparts with dark brown streaking; red bill; red legs; bare red skin around eye. Sexes similar; restricted to highlands of central Angola; rare …
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.
Swierstra's Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~470 g) restricted to montane forest and forest edge in the highlands of central Angola. Little known; detected mainly by vocalisations. Feeds on seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Vulnerable from ongoing deforestation in Angolan highlands and limited range of under-surveyed montane forests.