The peafowl, commonly referred to as a ‘peacock’, is a majestic large fowl commonly kept in captivity. Although many people are familiar with peafowl through seeing them in aviaries or zoos, they may not know the answers to common questions about their behavior.
These fascinating birds are most known for the males’ long ‘trains’ of tail feathers, which are used in courtship displays. But are these gorgeous birds capable of flight, or does their large size limit them? This article is here to break down what peafowl are capable of and share more information on these birds.
Peafowl Species – There’s More Than One!
First, it’s important to clarify that there isn’t just one kind of peafowl. Many people are most familiar with the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), which is overall blue with a green train. This species is commonly kept in captivity as a ‘watchdog’ on farms due to their protective natures and loud, noisy calls, but they’re also found in zoos or kept as pets. This Asiatic species is the most common species in the wild as well, and in captivity, they’ve been bred to have multiple color mutations such as leucistic (white) and pied.
But there are two more species of peafowl in existence – they’re just less common in aviculture as they can be more challenging to keep in captivity. One of these species is the green peafowl, also known as the Java peafowl (Pavo muticus), which is an eye-catching jade green overall. They are more challenging to keep in captivity as they can be sensitive to change, and they require warm environments to thrive.
They’re also known to be less friendly than Indian peafowl, meaning they aren’t usually suitable as pets. They are capable of hybridizing with the Indian peafowl, and these unique-looking birds are referred to as spalding peafowl.
There’s also the Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis), a smaller, more compact bird – they’re the only member of the peafowl family native to Africa. This species won’t be found as a pet – they’re rare in captivity, and are only in a select few zoos and private aviaries. They have a stout build, and the male is black overall with eye-catching iridescent blue patterns. Overall, their build is more similar to that of a turkey than that of the more familiar Indian peafowl. This bird is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN, and they’re primarily at risk from habitat destruction in their native range.
Are Peacocks Capable of Flight?
While it may not be as graceful as the flight of a peregrine falcon or barn swallow, the answer is yes – all three peafowl species are capable of flight. However, flight may not be the best choice for these birds in lots of situations.
Indian peafowl are known to more frequently run away from threats than take flight – the opposite of many birds’ natural instincts. Their large size makes flight more cumbersome, so they may avoid expending energy on this task when it isn’t necessary. For this reason, peacocks are sedentary birds, not migratory – they’re not capable of long, graceful flights, which would be exhausting to them.
But, if need be, they can use their wings to catch some air – peacocks prefer to sleep in high roosts like tree branches, so they typically fly daily at least to get some higher ground.
Green peafowl are similarly capable of flight, though it is clumsy. Some find their flight to be more similar to a leap with assistance from their wings than a true gliding flight found in most birds. Unlike many species, green peafowl must continuously flap their wings to sustain flight, as they are too heavy to naturally glide.
However, they are known to fly for relatively long distances, and don’t seem as hindered by their size as the Indian peafowl. For example, green peafowl have been known to fly from island to island across bodies of water – it’s unlikely you’d see an Indian peafowl perform the same feat.
Finally, the Congo peafowl is capable of flight, too – but the dense, brushy jungle habitats they prefer means they don’t fly very often. These primarily ground-dwelling birds will fly to escape predators or to roost in trees for safety for most of their flights.
However, they’re capable of more than Indian or green peafowl, possibly due to their lighter weight and overall smaller size. Unfortunately, this species hasn’t been heavily researched, so there’s still more to learn about their flight capabilities and overall behavior.
Where does the misconception that peafowl can’t fly arise from? Many birds with a similar build, such as turkeys and pheasants, are also incorrectly assumed to be incapable of flight. This is likely because the birds’ size and weight encourages them to run instead of taking flight whenever they have the opportunity. This isn’t because they cannot fly, but because they are conserving their energy for other tasks – taking flight is draining for hefty birds.
Conclusion
While peacocks are not the most graceful fliers of the avian world, they are more than capable of liftoff when the need arises. You’ll more commonly see these birds spending their time on the ground, as this is where they forage for food. However, as we learn more about the elusive Congo peafowl, we may discover they’re capable of more than we previously assumed.
Want to see a peafowl in flight for yourself? It may be difficult to see them take flight organically, as you don’t want to scare or startle them into taking off (they’re also very confident, and they may chase you back if you try!). So, your best bet is to observe peafowl near dusk, before they take roost in trees for the night – if you’re lucky, you’ll see them take flight to get to a safe perch.
