Green Peafowl
The Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus (from Latin Pavo, peafowl; muticus, Mute, docked or curtailed) is a large Galliform bird that is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is also known as the Java Peafowl, but this term should only be used to describe the nominate subspecies which is endemic to the island of Java. It is the closest relative of the Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), which is mostly found on the Indian subcontinent.
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| Green Peafowl |
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jappalang
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| Green Peafowl |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/infomatique/
Description
Unlike the related Indian Peafowl, the sexes of Green Peafowl are quite similar in appearance, especially in the field. Both sexes have long upper tail coverts which cover the actual tail underneath. In the male this extends up to two meters decorated with eyespots or ocelli while in the female the coverts are green and much shorter just covering the tail. Outside the breeding season, however, the male's train is moulted and it can be difficult to distinguish the sexes unless they are observed up close. The neck and breast feathers of both sexes are iridescent green are "scaly" in appearance. In the male, the scapulars, median and greater wing coverts are blue while the lesser coverts are green and form a triangle when the wing is closed. The secondaries are black with brown barred tertiaries, which varies according to race. The female has blue lesser coverts and therefore lacks the "triangle" at the wing shoulder. Overall the female has slightly less iridescence and more barring on the back as well as the primaries. Both sexes have pointed crests, and are long-legged, heavy-winged and long-tailed in silhouette. The facial skin is double striped with a white to light blue and beside the ear is a yellow to orange crescent. Seen from a distance, they are generally dark coloured birds with pale vermillion or buff coloured primaries which are quite visible in their peculiar flight which has been described as a true flapping flight with little gliding that one associates with Galliform birds.
Green Peafowl are generally more silent than Indian Peafowl. The male of some subspecies, especially imperator, have a loud call of ki-wao, which is often repeated. The female has a loud aow-aa call with an emphasis on the first syllable. The male may also make a similar call. The males call from their roost sites at dawn and dusk.
Green Peafowl are generally more silent than Indian Peafowl. The male of some subspecies, especially imperator, have a loud call of ki-wao, which is often repeated. The female has a loud aow-aa call with an emphasis on the first syllable. The male may also make a similar call. The males call from their roost sites at dawn and dusk.
