Indian Peafowl vs Elgon Francolin
Pavo cristatus compared with Scleroptila elgonensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Elgon Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Scleroptila elgonensis |
| 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) | 34.4 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 478.0 g (16.86 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Feeds on seeds and invertebrates in montane grassland and heathland of East African highlands. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 5 |
| 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.
Elgon Francolin
Loud, strident 'krak-KRAK-krak' calls from Mount Elgon moorland; ringing and emphatic. Mt Elgon and Ugandan highlands endemic. Alarm is explosive cackling cackle. Pairs call antiphonally at dawn.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Elgon Francolin
Resident of Afroalpine moorland on Mount Elgon (Kenya/Uganda border), above 3,000 m; very restricted range.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Elgon 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
Elgon Francolin
Brown above with buff shaft streaks and dark spotting; pale buff underparts with dark brown streaking; white throat; rufous wing flash; yellow bill; red legs in male, yellow in female; …
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.
Elgon Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~478 g) of highland grassland and heathland on the slopes of Mount Elgon and neighbouring mountains in Uganda and Kenya. Typically found above 2,400 m. Brown-streaked and well camouflaged. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates; occurs in pairs or small groups. Least Concern.