WHAT IS A PEAFOWL?

[Resolution]

Sorry about rambling! HA! That's my department. It takes a while for me to turn the train around to get out the stream of thoughts pertinent to the discussion- I'll try and cover how to keep green peafowl free ranging in just a moment- have to rearrange what I plopped here last- and get into the actual dietary issues- today.

But feeling guilty about keeping the birds confined away from predators with complete nutrition in front of them all the time isn't something anyone should be feeling guilty about...

right now crafting the discussion of energy requirements of territory holding males- yes- the behaviors and energy required to perform these behaviors we refer to as "showing off" . We'll explore the actual form and function of display behaviors as this is the most significant aspect of nutrition- I do promise that we'll be into the actual diet once this topic is covered-

 

[Resolution]

Peafowl bill feed their chicks for extended periods. There is marked delayed maturity with juveniles remaining with parents until later into their sub-adult phase.. In some populations these nearly mature sub-adults may join larger groups of non-breeding adults to frequent the peripharies of their parents' nesting territories. In some instances, especially amongst the Argus and Congo Peafowl, they may do this indefinitely, especially males.




Pheasants, Grouse and Turkey do not bill feed.

This is unusual amongst galliformes but common amongst Cracidiformes, Roul Roul and Peacock-Pheasants.

Reaching back to the topic of the ancestral root of Peafowl- Cracids are capable of using their rudimentary though fully functional wings within days of their birth.
This is also true of all Peafowl genera as well as other basal Gallinate lineages like Tragopans and Monals. This trait has been lost by other lineages that hatch their chicks in fewer days and mature more rapidly. Those taxa that are hatched from large eggs with well developed wing feathers and tail feathers, capable of sustained flight in scant time, are also very slow to mature.
It takes years to become fully adult. Compare and contrast that with the Coturnix Quail ready to reproduce within its first year of life. The nutritional requirements of these very large birds that mature slowly and set on their eggs for such a long time, differ from those with different reproductive strategies- those species like the Ring Neck Pheasant, the Wild Turkey, Red Junglefowl and Coturnix. These are species that lay large clutches and that develop very rapidly with reduced dependency on their parents. This is the primary difference between Peafowl and other commonly maintained birds. Not incidentally, commercial diets are formulated very carefully to meet the demands of these rapidly growing species with their relatively short lifespans and comparatively small reproductive investment.

 

[SuperPeacockman]

I have a question: Do congo peafowl display in any way?

 

[zazouse]

Aren't they really pheasants ?

 

[zazouse]

I have a question: Do congo peafowl display in any way?

Yes they do i just found this site tells about them and says they do fan to impress the females. Silly boys.
http://www.arkive.org/congo-peafowl/afropavo-congensis

 

[destinduck]

Kermit, You are the man when it comes to incredible photos. Thanks once again for always sharing these. Shawn

 

[bdfive]

I agree with Shawn. Kermit, you're the best!!

 

[Resolution]

I have a question: Do congo peafowl display in any way?

Congo Peafowl perform elaborate flight displays. Both sexes engage in pair bonding rituals year round. They are strongly monogamous.
When the male radiates with its tale spread, the brilliant blue violet velvet fringe at the tips of the retrices form a semi circle with the secondary wing covert speculum. The breast feathers are highly specialised -especially the flank plumes which are elongated and similar in structure to the crest of a goura pigeon's crest. These plumes are highly iridescent and are held out in a manner not unlike those of a turkey. These plumes match the secondary speculums on the wings and tail tips in hue and vibrance. The area immediately behind the lower neck where the upper back meets the neck is the most vividly coloured area on the body. When the male is radiating this patch is extended and becomes very visible. Indeed- the whole neck is transformed during this display behavior. The head is held at an odd angle- we would fire a taxidermist that stretched the bird into such a strange shape. The bill is held against the throat - the entire gular region is inflated. It's bare skin glows a different hue- it becomes much more intense. A brilliant circular spot appears behind the eye of the male -the forecrest is expanded into a vibrating pin cushion-

The fascinating thing about Afropavo while in radiating posture- and this is difficult to articulate- the entire bird- the male Congo Peafowl- while standing in its radiation posture "fanning" as it's sometimes described- the bird resembles an enormous eye spot- a single ocelli as we observe in the Pavo males' train.
The breast is black surrounded by vivid iridescence -the upper tail coverts and shoulder scapulars are neutral bronze - they frame the brilliant iridescent ring surrounding the colourless black, light absorbing centre. I can't really articulate what I'm talking about- but will post a photo of it or an illustration one of these days.

Aren't they really pheasants ?

No. Congo Peafowl are the closest living relatives of the typical Pavo peafowls. They are also related to Crested and Great Argus. These four genera constitute a single ancient and highly isolated lineage- the peafowl family.
The closest relative of that lineage is actually the Chukar and it's relatives, which are in turn allied with Coturnix.
The relationship between the Chukar/Coturnix lineage and the Peafowl lineage is ~ analogous with how closely related Rhinoceros/Tapir are related to Horses. The three mammals aforementioned are all descended of a common ancestor and directly related but derived very early on in their development- with the respective evolutionary history of each of the three members of the Perissodactyla having highly diversified over these many millions of years.

On that thought- the Hippo -which superficially might resemble a Rhino in some way -is actually a member of its own ancient lineage- with its own unique evolutionary history. The Pheasants are ~ analogous with the Hippo in this instance- they superficially resemble peafowl but are members or respective lineages. The Peafowl are literally millions of years older than the pheasant/grouse/turkey lineage. Ironically, the Hungarian Grey Partridge Perdix is a pheasant. It is called a partridge and this name is now used to describe the Chukar and its relatives. But the Chukar is essentially unrelated to the Grey Partridge. They resemble one another only superficially.

Quote:

Kermit, You are the man when it comes to incredible photos. Thanks once again for always sharing these. Shawn

Thanks Shawn- I'll try and post some more photos in the near future- very busy this time of year.

I agree with Shawn. Kermit, you're the best!!

Actually bdfive- you are one of the reasons I take the time to write here. Someone needs to educate the next generation of pavonine aviculturists.

 

[SuperPeacockman]

If you ever get the chance to post a picture we would all enjoy it. Its hard to picture what you are describing. When you say the neck patch extends do you mean like a tragopan?

 

[BooBear]

Beautiful photos.