Peacock Pictures
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Family Tree

Peacocks are in the pheasant family (Phasianidae).

Size and Life Expectancy

Peafowl males are about 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) long. Of that about 5 feet (1.5 meters) is their "train" which is made up of the feathers that cover their tail feathers. They weigh up to 13 pounds (6kg). They live about twenty years.

Range and Habitat

There are three subspecies of peafowl. The blue peafowl is found in India and Sri Lanka and the green peafowl is native to Java and Myanmar (aka: Burma). The Congo peafowl lives in the Congo River Basin in Africa. They live in forested areas and bushlands (areas without too much vegetation).


Peafowl eat plants and insects and arachnids and amphibians.


Leopards and tigers and other large cats. Snakes and lizards eat their eggs.

Extra Fun Facts

Peacocks are a type of pheasant. The word “peacock” actually only refers to males. Females are called “peahens” and both sexes together are called “peafowl.” Both sexes have spurs on their heels which they use to defend themselves and sometimes to fight amongst themselves. People have had peafowl pets for thousands of years. Peafowl are of course famous for their wonderful "train" which is made up of the feathers that cover their tail feathers. It used to be believed that females selected males with more impressive train displays but recently studies have shown that it is actually noises made during courting that attract females.


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