Indian Peafowl Pavo Cristatus Research Articles

Preening correlates with lower feather bacteria abundance but not feather coloration in a lek‐breeding bird

Feathers are structures unique to birds that serve important functions such as flight, thermoregulation, and communication. Bacteria that live on the feathers, particularly ones that can break down keratin, have the potential to damage feathers and disrupt their use in communication. We predicted that birds could behaviorally manage their feather bacterial abundances by preening their feathers. We also predicted that individuals with lower feather bacterial abundances would have brighter and more colorful feathers. To test these predictions, we measured the amount of time individuals in a colony of captive Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus spent preening their feathers. We also collected feathers to determine bacteria abundance on the feather surface and to measure feather coloration. We found that birds had lower feather bacteria levels when they spent more time preening their own feathers, but only in female birds. We also found that bacteria abundances were not correlated with any feather color variables we measured. These results suggest that birds can manage feather bacterial abundances by preening but feather bacteria may not influence feather coloration in this species.

Assessment of long-term trends in a threatened grassland bird community using daily bird lists

Summary Open natural ecosystems (ONEs), such as tropical grasslands, are among the most threatened habitats on Earth today. The long-term monitoring of ONEs is an important research domain that is essential for understanding anthropogenic impacts and facilitating conservation action. Using a simple day-listing method over a 13-year period, we studied species trends in a central Indian grassland–agriculture mosaic experiencing several land-use changes. Our results indicate that some grassland species (such as the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps) showed steep declines during the study period, while other generalist species (such as the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus) showed an increasing trend. Daily listing also revealed distinct seasonal patterns, and we discuss the Great Indian Bustard and Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus as examples. Our study highlights the utility of consistent checklist surveys to monitor population trends of bird communities within a changing landscape.

Rottnest Island Peafowl Pavo cristatus - a colourful history comes to an end

ABSTRACT During the early 1900s, the Acclimatization Committee of Western Australia introduced several species to Rottnest Island, most of which ultimately failed to establish. The Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus was one that was successful and became synonymous with visits to the island. Peafowl eventually became too much of a nuisance and in 2009 the population was reduced by the Rottnest Island Authority leaving just male birds. In April 2022 the last peafowl died. We present the history of peafowl on Rottnest Island and describe how the introduced species' residence on Rottnest Island came to end.

The taxonomic history of Black-shouldered Peafowl; with Darwin's help downgraded from species to variation

In the 19th century the black-shouldered variety of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus was erroneously viewed by many as a separate species, named P. nigripennis. Others had doubts about its taxonomic status, but Darwin presented firm evidence for it being a variety under domestication, which treatment is now well established and accepted. It being a colour variation rather than a wild species was important for Darwin to prove, as otherwise it could undermine his theory of slow modification by natural selection in the wild. ‘I cannot consider it a domesticated variety, because the differences in both sexes appear to be constant, and to descend to the progeny’ (Sclater 1860: 222). ‘The black-shouldered peacock is a variety, the case is the most remarkable ever recorded of the abrupt appearance of a new form, which so closely resembles a true species that it has deceived one of the most experienced of living ornithologists’ (Darwin 1868: 292).

“Man-Peafowl Conflict”-An Assessment in the Cultivated Crop lands of Kumbakonam Region of Tamil Nadu, India

The Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus also known as the Blue Peafowl was declared as the National bird of India during 1963 due to its ‘flagship’ value found on its glorious position in mythology and its widespread distribution and grandeur and comes in Schedule-I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Many parts of India, the birds can be a nuisance to agriculture as they damage crops. The present study was made in the villages surrounded by Neelathanallur which is situated in the basin of Kollidam river. Line transect method were followed to estimate the population of the Indian Peafowl. The tree species used for roosting by peafowls were recorded and identified. The details of abundance and problems in selected cultivation areas were collected using questionnaire survey method. The study areas mostly dominated with crops cultivation and mainly cultivated by grains and vegetables. A total of 14 visits were made to the study sites of which a total of 50 sightings of peafowls were seen. About 26.25% of the observation shows the peafowls raid mainly on corn or maize plants followed by paddy field (23.11%), chilli (21.85%), cereals & grams (16.14%) respectively. The people living in the study sites does not have much impact due to peafowl. They are not doing any harm to the peafowl because they are worshipping the peacock as vehicle of Lord Subramania.

Conservation and Management of the National Bird, Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, in Urban Green Areas of Delhi, India

Conservation and Management of the National Bird, Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, in Urban Green Areas of Delhi, India

Incidences of mortality of Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus due to pesticide poisoning in India and accumulation pattern of chlorinated pesticides in tissues of the same species collected from Ahmedabad and Coimbatore.

Incidences of mortality of Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus, the national bird (Schedule I Indian Wild Life Protection Act 1972), are rampant in India. Between January 2011 and March 2017, around 550 peafowl in 35 incidences were reported dead across the country. Due to the non-availability of fresh carcases, poisoning could not be confirmed. Birds which died due to kite string injuries in Ahmedabad (15) and accidents in Coimbatore (5) were tested for residues of chlorinated pesticides, namely hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), endosulfan, heptachlor, dicofol, dieldrin and cholipyrifos. The liver, kidney and muscle were the tissues considered to document pesticide load. Total load ranged from BDL to 388.2ng/g. DDT (95%) and HCH (80%) were detected more frequently. DDT (40%) and endosulfan (26%) contributed maximum to the total pesticide load followed by HCH (21%). Pesticide accumulation pattern among the organs was in the order of liver (123.9ng/g) > kidney (91.9ng/g) > muscle (19.5ng/g) with significant difference (p < 0.05). Peafowl from Ahmedabad had significantly (p < 0.05) higher level of total pesticide (149.0ng/g) than birds from Coimbatore (47.8ng/g). Although varying levels of chlorinated pesticide were detected, they were below reported toxic limits. Nevertheless, persistence of chlorinated pesticides and poisoning due to modern pesticides across the entire distribution range of Peafowl in India is a cause for concern.

The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in the Vicinity of the Giant’s Tank in Mannar District, Sri Lanka

The Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus is distributed widely across Sri Lanka’s low country dry zone. Observations of the peafowl were carried out in Mannar area for 46 days from July 2003 to October 2005 to understand their distribution and abundance in Mannar area. A total of 624 birds were encountered, of which 342 were males, 270 females and 12 chicks. Of the 342 adult males recorded, 169 (49.4%) were solitary, while 35 (10.2%) were found in male-only groups. Of the 270 adult females observed, only 31 (or 11.5%) were solitary, while 33 (12.2%) were found in female-only groups. Of the 624 peafowl observed in the study, only 49 (7.9%) were present in mixed groups. In these mixed groups, the average adult male:female ratio was 1:0.79. The birds were most active during the period of 1600 to 1900 hrs with a peak between 1700-1800 hrs. Breeding season commenced in December with the onset of the north-east monsoon and reached its peak in May with the start of the dry season. Chicks were observed with peahens in February 2004. The approximate density of peafowl was 13.8 km-2. Peafowls are well adapted to live in human-dominated and human-altered landscapes. The key to long-term survival of the peafowl is lack of conflicts with agricultural communities, and presence of large tracts of scrub forest and associated grasslands with access to water. Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 44 (1) : 61-66, 2015

Display behaviour of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes) during the mating season in viralimalai, TamilNadu, India

The Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus , the largest of the pheasants of India, inhabits mostly in the semi arid conditions. In the present study, we examined the courtship displays of free-ranging peacocks in relation to both the orientation and the relative positions of females being attracted/courted from August 2012 to January 2013 in Viralimalai, Tamil Nadu, India. The following questions are addressed in this study: (1) Do the peacocks orient their courtship display towards the sun? (2) Is there any relationship between the presence of peahen and the duration of display of peacock? (3) Is there any site-preference to display? It is found that majority of the display oriented towards sun initially but oriented towards peahen (regardless of its direction) soon after its arrival. Although peacock displayed even in the absence of peahen, presence of peahen influenced the display duration of peacock. Displays were performed largely in open areas in the study area. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v7i1.7502

Behavior of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linn. 1758 During the Mating Period in a Natural Population~!2009-12-03~!2010-03-02~!2010-04-13~!

Behavioral observations on Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus in the Shivalik landscape of North India were carried out during their mating period, between 31 March and 21 May 2006. Behaviors of peafowl were recorded using scan samples. Overall, females, sub-adult males and adult males spent different proportions of time in different activities, and the proportion of time spent on different activities varied during the mating season. Visitation by females influenced the frequency of displays by adult male Indian peafowl during this period. The study reveals that peafowl behavior in its native habitat broadly conforms to that documented from captive and introduced populations. However, there were some differences between the wild and captive populations in vocalizations, maintenance behavior and spatial distribution of adult males. Since the time spent engaging in these behaviors may affect the cost of display, these results emphasize the need to assess the signaling cost in situ where the behavior evolved.

On the current status of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae): keeping the common species common

On the current status of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae): keeping the common species common

On the current status of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae): keeping the common species common

It is ironic that while all efforts to save the Tiger (Panthera tigris) are underway, another species of national importance, the Indian Peafowl, (Pavo cristatus) is still to receive adequate attention. Illegal trade for train-feathers and mass mortality due to indiscriminate application of pesticides and herbicides in crop-fields are major causes of the recent decline in peafowl numbers. Though there has been increasing concern over the declining peafowl population, it is difficult to arrive at a realistic plan unless the current population size, the rate of decline and the causes of decline are scientifically quantified. Considering the need for conservation initiatives for peafowl, one must look beyond the ‘fire-fighting approach’ towards ‘keeping the common species common’ in order to be efficient with conservation investments and instill greater public participation.

Birds and Artisans of the Roman Mosaics of Tunisia: Species, Symbolism and Origins

Abstract: The mosaic pavements of Roman North Africa contain both African and Italian bird species, amongst others, but it was not possible to attribute pavements to mosaicists from either country on the basis of the avifauna depicted. Forty-one species of birds were recorded, the most commonly occurring being the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara, Pheasant Phasianus colchicus and Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. Birds appear in a variety of ways: representing the seasons, game to be served to guests dining at a banquet, hunting including falconry and disguises, immortality and the gardens in paradise, myth, ritual as well as for decoration. Pavements containing birds spanned the first to the sixth centuries and have been found in twenty-nine locations in Tunisia. El Djem was the third century centre for birds in mosaics, shifting to Carthage and Thuburbo Majus in the fourth, then Tabarka in the fifth, with a notable decline in species diversity. The pavements preserve an ornithological treasure.

Multilocus DNA fingerprints in gallinaceous birds: general approach and problems.

Multilocus profiles were investigated in five different species of Galliformes (ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus, Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus, Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica, domestic chicken Gallus gallus, and red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus) using two human multilocus probes (33.6 and 33.15) in combination with each of four restriction enzymes (AluI, DdeI, HaeIII or HinfI). All the species show a DNA fingerprint-like pattern using at least one restriction enzyme in combination with each multilocus probe. The number of bands detected and the value of the index of similarity for each species differ significantly between the profiles obtained with each multilocus probe. Some enzyme/probe combinations reveal strong cross-hybridization of the multilocus probes with satellite or satellite-like DNA sequences in pheasant, peacock, quail and chicken, which partially or completely prevented scoring of the profile. The choice of restriction enzyme was found to influence the number of bands, the value of the index of similarity and the probability of obtaining an identical fingerprint between unrelated individuals. The Mendelian inheritance and independent segregation of the fragments detected using AluI was investigated in three species (ring-necked pheasant, Indian peafowl and red grouse). Some bands were shown to be tightly linked. An extreme case was encountered in the red grouse, where 12 of the 15 bands scored in one parent represented only two, apparently allelic, haplotypes and so derived from a single locus. However, fingerprint patterns will often be adequate for use in paternity analyses, such as in behavioural studies, despite the occurrence of haplotypic sets of bands. Identical DNA multilocus profiles were sometimes observed between captive-bred siblings in one species. These results emphasize the desirability of determining, in each new species, the optimal experimental conditions as a preliminary to any behavioural or population genetic studies that use the multilocus DNA fingerprinting methodology.