2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Birds The
Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, also known as the Common Peafowl
or the Blue Peafowl, is one of the species of bird in the genus
Pavo of the Phasianidae family known as peafowl. The Indian
Peafowl is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and has
been introduced into many parts of the world and feral
populations exist in many introduced regions. The peacock is the
national bird of India. The species is found in dry semi-desert
grasslands, scrub and deciduous forests. It forages and nests on
the ground but roosts on top of trees. It eats seeds, insects,
fruits, small mammals and reptiles. Females are about 86 cm (34
in) long and weigh about 3.4 kg (7.4 lbs), while males average
at about 2.12 m (7.3 ft) in full breeding plumage (107 cm/42 in
when not) and weigh about 5 kg (11 lbs). The male is called a
peacock, the female a peahen. The Indian Peacock has iridescent
blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts on its back are
elongated and orna