Indian Peafowl vs Shelley's Francolin
Pavo cristatus compared with Scleroptila shelleyi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Shelley's Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Scleroptila shelleyi |
| 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) | 33.1 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 494.75 g (17.45 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in montane grassland and woodland of eastern Africa. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 3-7 |
| 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.
Shelley's Francolin
Loud, sharp 'drink-lager' or 'krak-KEEK-krak' calls; E African highland grassland species. Alarm is rapid explosive cackle. Pairs call antiphonally. Heavy streaked flanks visible in flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Shelley's Francolin
Resident of open rocky hillsides, miombo woodland, and savanna from eastern DR Congo and Tanzania south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Shelley's 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
Shelley's Francolin
Dark brown above with bold buff shaft streaks; white below with prominent dark brown chevron markings on flanks and belly; white throat; rufous-chestnut primaries in flight; red bill and legs.
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.
Shelley's Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~495 g) of miombo woodland and grassy savanna across eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. Boldly streaked with chestnut and white. Loud, repetitive dawn calls characterise its presence. Feeds on seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Common in suitable woodland habitat; Least Concern.