Bird Guide

Green Peafowl vs Indian Peafowl

Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)

Green Peafowl

Pavo muticus

Huge2.2 kgWoodland

The green peafowl is a large bird in terms of overall size. The male is 1.8–3 m (5 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in) in total length, including its train, which measures 1.4–1.6 m (4 ft 7 in – 5 ft 3 in); the adult female is around half the total length of the breeding male at 1–1.1 m (3 ft 3 in – 3 ft 7 in) in length. It has a relatively large wingspan that averages around 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) and can reach 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) in big males. The green peafowl is capable of sustained (albeit energy-intensive) flight and is often observed on the wing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: William Stephens · CC BY 4.0
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

Huge4.2 kgForest

The Indian peafowl's size, color and shape of the crest make them easily identifiable within their native distribution range. It displays a marked form of sexual dimorphism. A male peafowl or peacock is a larger sized bird with an average bill to tail length of 100–120 cm (40–46 in) and as much as 200–230 cm (78–90 in) to the end of a fully grown train. It weighs 4.1–5.2 kg (9–11.5 lb) and is amongst the heaviest birds in Phasianidae. The male has a metallic blue crown with short and curled, blue-greenish head feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Indian Peafowl
Recorded by Kalle Nibbenhagen · Song · Vörstetten, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Wilfredor · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Green Peafowl and Indian Peafowl.