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The typical Asiatic
peafowl belonging to the genus Pavo include the familiar Indian
Peafowl, Pavo cristatus and the poorly known Dragonbirds or Green
Peafowl Pavo muticus. Some biologists believe that there are at
least five distinctive and critically endangered species of Green
Peafowl while others categorize them into a single species with
three subspecies. The Arakan Dragonbird Pavo spicifer was once
native to Northern Western Myanmar, Southern Tibet and Assam.
The Indo-Chinese or Siamese Dragonbird Pavo imperator was once
native to South East Myanmar and Thailand. The Annametic Dragonbird
Pavo annamensis inhabited the broadlieaf evergreen forests of
Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Southern Yunnan China. The Javanese
Green Peafowl, Pavo javanensis is native only to the island of
Java. The extinct Malay or Pahang Peafowl Pavo muticus muticus
was believed by early naturalists to be identical to the species
found on Java. The two are not identical and the peafowl's presence
in the fossil record of Java from at least the Pliocene rules
out an introduction by humans.
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When it is not
in display, the long tail rests on the ground and hampers the
movements of the peacock . The White Peacock is frequently mistaken
for an albino, but is a color mutation. Peafowl are in nature
omnivorous consuming plant parts, flower petals and seed heads
when available, but insects and other arthropods are the preferred
diet. Vegetable matter provides peafowl with the necessary fiber
required to digest hard scales and bones of small reptiles. Unlike
the somewhat similar Ring-neck Pheasant, Peafowls are obligate
predators. This means, that animal protein is a real necessity
for health and reproduction.
Above Images: 001-004.jpg Schmode.net 005.jpg Fun Group Inc.
006.jpg courtesy Us Fish and Wildlife Service
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