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Status of the Indian Peafowl in India

on 27th December 2016
Male Indian Peafowl courting female
Male Indian Peafowl courting female – YC Wee

The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), the National Bird of India, is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent. In many parts of northern India, it is regarded as sacred. It is also a protected species, found in scrub, forest edges and open areas. According to IUCN’s Red List, the peafowl is a Least Concern species.

Rear view of Male Indian Peafowl - YC Wee
Rear view of Male Indian Peafowl – YC Wee

Threats to the species come from poachers who kill the birds for the meat and feathers LINK. Conflict with farmers is another threat as they are considered a nuisance to agricultural crops. Finally there is the problem of habitat loss.

Male Peafowl on a tree branch - YC Wee
Male Indian Peafowl perching on a tree – YC Wee

“Thanks to strict wildlife conservation laws in India, peafowls have now become common across the country and are often found foraging around villages and towns,” wrote S Devasahayam. “In bustling cities like Delhi they even nest in porches and terraces of buildings. In fact in some states like Goa, there was a proposal to term them as ‘vermin’ along with monkeys and wild boars due to the damage they cause to farm crops.”

Male Indian Peafowl and its  train of feathers - YC Wee
Male Indian Peafowl and its tail coverts – YC Wee

S Devasahayam & YC Wee
India-Singapore
20th December 2016

References:
1.
Madge, S. & P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, Including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Helm Identification Guides, Christopher Helm, London, 488pp.
2. Ramesh, K.; McGowan, P. (2009). “On the current status of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae): keeping the common species common” (PDF). Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1 (2): 106–108.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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