The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is also called the Blue Peafowl. It is a large colourful bird native to South Asia.

The male peafowl is called a peacock. A female peafowl is called a peahen. A mixed group of males and females are called peafowl.

The Indian Peafowl has mainly blue and green feathers with a fan tail. The tail feathers have round tufts of short blue-green feathers that look like eyes. Males have a long tail, called a train with more than 200 feathers. Peahens do not have the train. The male has a metallic blue crown with a blue-green crest. Peahens have chestnut and green crest. It has a pale beak and pale legs. Peacocks have a spur on their leg. It has white lines near its eyes.

Indian Peafowl (male, called a Peacock)

It can grow to about 100 centimetres (39 inches) long, and up to 225 centimetres (89 inches) with the tail train included.

Peafowl can fly, but it lives mainly on the ground in forests or farmlands. It feeds on grains and berries, and also snakes, lizards, mice and rats. Therefore, it is omnivorous.

Peafowl live in groups. Females lay 4-8 white eggs in a nest. Only the female sits on the eggs until they hatch after about 28 days. The chicks follow their mother and sometimes climb on her back.

Indian Peafowl (male, called a Peacock)

Indian Peafowl (male, called Peacock)

Indian Peafowl (female, called a Peahen)

Indian Peafowl (female, called a Peahen)

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM