India Blue - Peafowl
India Blue Peafowl, Blue Peafowl, Common Peafowl
Origin: Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Many feral populations exist throughout the world.
Habitat: Varied, deciduous forests, cultivated lands .
Description: Stunning ,Unmistakable, could only possibly be confused with the Green Peafowl...i.e.Java. Males are large, with a long ornate tail used for courtship. Distinguishable from Pavo muticus in having a royal blue neck and breast; facial skin is white, crest is fan shaped. Immature males have varied plumage, but will have the fan-shaped crest and mottled blue upper parts. Second year males show a smaller tail, often without ocelli. By the third year, they reach full plumage and sexual maturity. The tail may continue to grow for another two to three years. Males will molt and lose their tails each year in late summer.
Description, Female: Less Plumage in comparison to the male. Facial skin and crest shape same as in male, but crest is brown. The throat is white, breast and back of neck green; abdomen pale buff to cream, rest of body light brownish-gray.
Status in Wild: Very common in most areas of the natural range.
Interesting Facts: The National Bird of India. This species is sometimes simply called the Peacock; the peacock is the male, females are known as peahens and the young are peachicks .Pavo is Latin for peafowl. cristatus is Latin for crested. Peafowl have been kept in captivity for many centuries and have been reported in ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek history.
Captive Diet: When on free range, will eat just about anything! A balanced diet should be offered to include poultry pellets and grain. Birds housed in aviaries should be offered greens and live food when available.
Breeding Season: Varies depending on region. In Missouri, can begin as early as March. Egg laying is usually complete by the time the males drop their tails in July, but there are exceptions!
Breeding Age: As a rule, males are not mature until their third year, but second year males are often fertile. I have heard of first year hens laying, but the second year is the average.
Clutch Size: Average clutch sizes in the wild are 6 to 8. Captive birds will lay up to three clutches.
Incubation Period: 28 days.
Aviaries and Housing: Blue Peafowl are hardy birds, often kept on free range where they will wander great distances. Large size is important for aviaries. Minimal shelter is required during the winter, but make sure there is adequate protection from the elements. When on free range, peafowl seek shelter high in the trees at night.
Peafowl can be very loud and not recommended with close neighbors. Several females can be kept with one male.
Mutations: There are a number of mutations that have been developed in captivity. The oldest mutations are the White and the Black-shouldered. White peafowl are pure white, both sexes; the Black-shouldered males have dark coverts (barred in the normal birds), hens are much lighter than normal hens. The Pied mutation has been around for many years, the birds appear as the true form, but with a varied degree of white throughout the plumage. It has seemed that a new mutation has been named just about every year for the past two decades!! Some of the newer mutations include the Cameo, Purple, Oaten, Bronze, White-eye (white flecks on the ocelli) to name a few. Depsite what some may say, the Spaulding is not a mutation, but rather a hybrid with the Pavo muticus bred in captivity (the natural ranges of these two species do not overlap - although feral cristatus may breed with muticus in some regions).
Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.
Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. In fact, wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties.
Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.
Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting with vibrant hues. They can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.
Average life span in the wild:20 years
Size:Body, 35 to 50 in. Tail, 5 ft
Weight:8.75 to 13 lbs
Did you know?A male peafowl is one of the largest flying birds when the combined length of its train and its large wingspan are considered.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
Origin: Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Many feral populations exist throughout the world.
Habitat: Varied, deciduous forests, cultivated lands .
Description: Stunning ,Unmistakable, could only possibly be confused with the Green Peafowl...i.e.Java. Males are large, with a long ornate tail used for courtship. Distinguishable from Pavo muticus in having a royal blue neck and breast; facial skin is white, crest is fan shaped. Immature males have varied plumage, but will have the fan-shaped crest and mottled blue upper parts. Second year males show a smaller tail, often without ocelli. By the third year, they reach full plumage and sexual maturity. The tail may continue to grow for another two to three years. Males will molt and lose their tails each year in late summer.
Description, Female: Less Plumage in comparison to the male. Facial skin and crest shape same as in male, but crest is brown. The throat is white, breast and back of neck green; abdomen pale buff to cream, rest of body light brownish-gray.
Status in Wild: Very common in most areas of the natural range.
Interesting Facts: The National Bird of India. This species is sometimes simply called the Peacock; the peacock is the male, females are known as peahens and the young are peachicks .Pavo is Latin for peafowl. cristatus is Latin for crested. Peafowl have been kept in captivity for many centuries and have been reported in ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek history.
Captive Diet: When on free range, will eat just about anything! A balanced diet should be offered to include poultry pellets and grain. Birds housed in aviaries should be offered greens and live food when available.
Breeding Season: Varies depending on region. In Missouri, can begin as early as March. Egg laying is usually complete by the time the males drop their tails in July, but there are exceptions!
Breeding Age: As a rule, males are not mature until their third year, but second year males are often fertile. I have heard of first year hens laying, but the second year is the average.
Clutch Size: Average clutch sizes in the wild are 6 to 8. Captive birds will lay up to three clutches.
Incubation Period: 28 days.
Aviaries and Housing: Blue Peafowl are hardy birds, often kept on free range where they will wander great distances. Large size is important for aviaries. Minimal shelter is required during the winter, but make sure there is adequate protection from the elements. When on free range, peafowl seek shelter high in the trees at night.
Peafowl can be very loud and not recommended with close neighbors. Several females can be kept with one male.
Mutations: There are a number of mutations that have been developed in captivity. The oldest mutations are the White and the Black-shouldered. White peafowl are pure white, both sexes; the Black-shouldered males have dark coverts (barred in the normal birds), hens are much lighter than normal hens. The Pied mutation has been around for many years, the birds appear as the true form, but with a varied degree of white throughout the plumage. It has seemed that a new mutation has been named just about every year for the past two decades!! Some of the newer mutations include the Cameo, Purple, Oaten, Bronze, White-eye (white flecks on the ocelli) to name a few. Depsite what some may say, the Spaulding is not a mutation, but rather a hybrid with the Pavo muticus bred in captivity (the natural ranges of these two species do not overlap - although feral cristatus may breed with muticus in some regions).
Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.
Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. In fact, wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties.
Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.
Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting with vibrant hues. They can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.
Average life span in the wild:20 years
Size:Body, 35 to 50 in. Tail, 5 ft
Weight:8.75 to 13 lbs
Did you know?A male peafowl is one of the largest flying birds when the combined length of its train and its large wingspan are considered.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
Red Golden Pheasants
The Golden Pheasants or Chinese Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) are native to forests in mountainous areas of western China. However, feral populations of these gamebirds have established themselves in Florida, USA, United Kingdom and elsewhere.
In captivity, the wild form of the Golden is often referred to as the Red Golden Pheasant.
The males of these species are one of the most brilliantly colored of all birds. Golden Pheasants are commonly found in zoos and private collections, although frequently they have been crossed with the similar Lady Amherst
Many of the color mutations of this breed in existence today are believed to originate from crosses between Amherst and Golden. It is very difficult to find birds that are completely pure representatives of this species.
The average lifespan of Golden Pheasants is 5 - 6 years; however, captive birds that are well taken care of could live 15 or even 20 years.
Quite Stunning and extremely talkative during breeding Season
Description:
The adult male is about 40 inches in length, with his tail accounting for two-thirds of the total length.
This is an unmistakable pheasant, with a golden-yellow crest with a hint of red at the tip, a golden rump and bright red body. The deep orange "cape" can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black and orange collar that covers all of the face except its bright yellow eye,with a pinpoint black pupil.
The face, throat, chin, and the sides of neck are rusty tan. The wattles and orbital skin are both yellow in color, and the ruff or cape is light orange. The upper back is green and the rest of the back and rump are golden-yellow in color. The tertiaries are blue whereas the scapulars (shoulder feathers) are dark red. Another characteristic of the male plumage is the central tail feathers which are black spotted with cinnamon as well as the tip of the tail being a cinnamon buff. The upper tail coverts are the same colour as the central tail feathers. Males also have a scarlet breast, and scarlet and light chestnut flanks and underparts.
The female (hen) is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage similar to that of the female Common Pheasant, She is darker and more slender than the hen of that species, with a proportionately longer tail (half her 60-80 cm length). The female's breast and sides are barred buff and blackish brown, and the abdomen is plain buff. She has a buff face and throat.
Both males and females have yellow legs and yellow bills.
Habitat:
Their natural habitats are dark young conifer forests with sparse undergrowth.
They feed on the ground on grain, leaves and invertebrates but roost in trees at night. While they can fly, they prefer to run: but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive wing sound.
In captivity, the wild form of the Golden is often referred to as the Red Golden Pheasant.
The males of these species are one of the most brilliantly colored of all birds. Golden Pheasants are commonly found in zoos and private collections, although frequently they have been crossed with the similar Lady Amherst
Many of the color mutations of this breed in existence today are believed to originate from crosses between Amherst and Golden. It is very difficult to find birds that are completely pure representatives of this species.
The average lifespan of Golden Pheasants is 5 - 6 years; however, captive birds that are well taken care of could live 15 or even 20 years.
Quite Stunning and extremely talkative during breeding Season
Description:
The adult male is about 40 inches in length, with his tail accounting for two-thirds of the total length.
This is an unmistakable pheasant, with a golden-yellow crest with a hint of red at the tip, a golden rump and bright red body. The deep orange "cape" can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black and orange collar that covers all of the face except its bright yellow eye,with a pinpoint black pupil.
The face, throat, chin, and the sides of neck are rusty tan. The wattles and orbital skin are both yellow in color, and the ruff or cape is light orange. The upper back is green and the rest of the back and rump are golden-yellow in color. The tertiaries are blue whereas the scapulars (shoulder feathers) are dark red. Another characteristic of the male plumage is the central tail feathers which are black spotted with cinnamon as well as the tip of the tail being a cinnamon buff. The upper tail coverts are the same colour as the central tail feathers. Males also have a scarlet breast, and scarlet and light chestnut flanks and underparts.
The female (hen) is much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage similar to that of the female Common Pheasant, She is darker and more slender than the hen of that species, with a proportionately longer tail (half her 60-80 cm length). The female's breast and sides are barred buff and blackish brown, and the abdomen is plain buff. She has a buff face and throat.
Both males and females have yellow legs and yellow bills.
Habitat:
Their natural habitats are dark young conifer forests with sparse undergrowth.
They feed on the ground on grain, leaves and invertebrates but roost in trees at night. While they can fly, they prefer to run: but if startled they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive wing sound.