Indian Peafowl vs Temminck's Tragopan
Pavo cristatus compared with Tragopan temminckii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Indian Peafowl | Temminck's Tragopan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pavo cristatus | Tragopan temminckii |
| 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) | 47.4 cm (18.7 in) |
| Weight | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) | 1146.75 g (40.45 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in … | Eats berries, seeds, leaves, shoots, and invertebrates in Chinese and Himalayan montane forests. Forages on … |
| 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.
Temminck's Tragopan
Loud 'aa-aa-WAAk' call; goose-like and slightly nasal. Male calls energetically from forest understory at breeding season. Alarm is rapid barking; contact notes are soft, clucking 'bok' sounds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Indian Peafowl
Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.
Temminck's Tragopan
Resident in the mountains of central and southwestern China and adjacent Myanmar at 2,000-4,000 m. Found in deciduous and coniferous montane forest.
Conservation Status
Indian Peafowl
Temminck's Tragopan
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
Temminck's Tragopan
Male is deep crimson-orange with small round white spots; bare blue facial skin and blue inflatable bib with red and white markings during display. Female is brown with intricate buff-white …
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.
Temminck's Tragopan
A large pheasant (~1.1 kg) of family Phasianidae, males with brilliant crimson plumage and white-spotted grey upperparts, sporting a sky-blue lappet in display. Inhabits temperate and subalpine forests from northeastern India through southern China at 1,800–3,500 m. Feeds on berries, seeds, and invertebrates. Least Concern; the most widespread tragopan in China with stable forest populations.