- Pavo muticus
Photo by Peter R. Bono<
Location: Huai Kong Khrai King's Project, Chaing Mai, Thailand
Date: January 2006
Identification
Considerable difference between subspecies. Tends to be larger and more similarity between the sexes than the Indian Peafowl; males up to 300 cm with train while female up to 110 cm. Both sexes of all races have a tufted crest, an iridescent neck and breast, and blue wing feathers with rufous primaries. Facial skin forms two white to sky blue double-stripes with a yellow to orange crescent at the rear of facial skin. Male only differs from female during the breeding season with long upper-tail coverts similar to Indian Peafowl; female lacks this and may also be slightly duller but almost identical to non-breeding male or juveniles. Nominate muticus has the most colorful plumage with golden-green neck. imperator is slightly duller but tends to have more vivid facial skin. Spicifer tends to be a dull bluish-green and tends to be a larger subspecies.
Distribution
India to sw China, Indochina and Java
Taxonomy
Subspecies
- P. m. spicifer - NE India and se Bangladesh to nw Myanmar, Thailand and reintroduced to Malaysia
- P. m. imperator - Myanmar to Thailand, s China and Indochina
- P. m. muticus - Locally in Java; formerly Malay Peninsula and Isthmus of Kra
It has been suggested the population of imperator in Yunnan, China, is a possible fourth subspecies and two more subspecies (annamensis and javanensis) have been suggested.
Habitat
Forests and scrub.
Status
For many years the Green Peafowl was evaluated as Vulnerable on the Red List due to hunting and habitat destruction, but in 2009 this was changed, the species is now considered Endangered. The subspecies muticus has become extinct in Malaysia, and spicifer has been reintroduced instead (which was also native to Northern Malaysia), sightings are rare in the eastern part of the later subspecies' range as well. imperator remains fairly common throughout its range, but feral hybrids between Indian Peafowl exist in places such as Yunnan. Captive stocks are also impure, few breeders have pure subspecies.
Behaviour
Believed to be similar to Indian Peafowl, but is a better flier. Birds are highly aggressive and territorial and not as hardy in winter conditions as the Indian Peafowl. Displays with long upper-tail coverts (ocelli) but does not move wings around as often; only occasionally shaking the quills. Not much is known about the breeding system but it is traditionally believed to be polygamous. However, in captivity they are strongly monogamous and the similarities of the sexes and juvenile individuals suggests the species is monogamous in the wild as well. Female lays 3 to 6 eggs.
Generally feeds on fruits, invertebrates, and reptiles. It is also believed to hunt venomous snakes.
Vocalisation
Males have a loud "ki-wao" call while females have an "aow-aa" call. This is generally not as loud as it is in Indian Peafowl.
