New Zealand Introduced Animals > Peafowl

Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

INTRODUCED

DISTRIBUTION: Native to India and Ceylon. In New Zealand it can be found wild in the North Island along the Whanganui River, Hawke’s Bay, Mahia Peninsula, Gisborne, Waimarama, Wairoa and near Tutira.

HABITAT: Wild peafowl inhabit thickets and bushland in river valleys or near streams. They roost in trees, often near water, and live in small flocks that usually consist of a cock and his harem of three to five hens.

BREEDING: The hen lays 4-6 eggs in a scrape-nest in the ground and incubates them for 28 days.

FOOD: Peafowl are cautious birds that feed in the early morning and late afternoon, scratching the ground for berries, waste grain, leaves, shoots, flower buds, insects, larvae and worms.

VOICE: The cock crows a loud harsh, trumpet-like ‘may-awe’ repeated several times. Hens leading chicks may give a ‘kok-kok’ alarm call.

GENERAL: The cock is a large blue-green bird with a long sweeping tail, erected and fanned in display. They have a fan shaped crest on their head and white cheeks. The hen is smaller, brown and mottled, with a shorter tail.


© New Zealand Conservation Trust 2006 - 2010, 60 Hussey Rd, Harewood, Christchurch Phone: +64 3 359 6226, Fax: +64 3 359 6212, Email: info@nzconservationtrust.org.nz		Privacy \| Disclaimer \| Site Map website by digitise