Indian Peafowl vs Red-winged Francolin
Pavo cristatus compared with Scleroptila levaillantii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Red-winged Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Scleroptila levaillantii |
| 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) | 32.5 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 448.75 g (15.83 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in South African grassland and fynbos; scratches soil. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 3-5 |
| 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.
Red-winged Francolin
Ringing, emphatic 'keee-KRAK-keee' call series; S African highland grassland species. Alarm is explosive cackling with flush; rufous wing patches visible in flight. 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.
Red-winged Francolin
Resident of highland grassland and montane scrub in eastern South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal to Northern Cape) and Lesotho.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Red-winged 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
Red-winged Francolin
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; white-streaked dark brown underparts; rufous-chestnut primaries diagnostic in flight; white throat; red bill; red legs in male, yellow in female. Grassland species.
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-winged Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~449 g) of montane grassland and open country in eastern and southern Africa. Rufous-red wing patches are conspicuous in flight. Inhabits high-altitude open grassland. Feeds on grass seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Calls loudly in the morning; forms loose groups. Least Concern.