How many different species of peacocks have you seen at the zoo?
Given you are soleley referring to peafowl, aka the two species of the genus Pavo and the one species of the genus Afropavo: All extant species, with "the" zoo including several zoos, like Zoo Berlin, Vogelpark Walsrode etc. etc.
Unfortunately, I was born three million years too late to see the European peafowl (Pavo bravardi).
Unfortunately, I was born three million years too late to see the European peafowl (Pavo bravardi).
There's only three species of peafowl, and I'd guess that probably a majority of ZooChatters (including me) have seen all three.
Rizz Carlton
Well-Known Member
I have seen all two of the Asian peafowls (Indian and green) and within it only one subspecies of the green peafowl (Nominate subspecies from Java). Didn't yet to have the chance to see the African peafowl.
A
Are green peafowl that common? I can’t recall seeing one (although my zoogoing is mostly limited to the midwestern US) and zootierliste shows only 9 US holders.
They aren't super common, but you visit enough zoos and you run into them eventually. Same with Congo Peafowl.
I've had both Indian and Greens under my belt for a while (both can be found in NC; Indian at Greensboro, which has a free-roaming individual, and Greens at Sylvan Heights), but I only managed to see Congo Peafowl for the first time this year at Philadelphia.
The Indian Peafowl was the most common species I've seen, at 9 facilities I've visited. Greens were found at 3 (Central Park, Staten Island, and Sylvan Heights), and I've only seen Congos at Bronx and Philadelphia.
The Indian Peafowl was the most common species I've seen, at 9 facilities I've visited. Greens were found at 3 (Central Park, Staten Island, and Sylvan Heights), and I've only seen Congos at Bronx and Philadelphia.
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
Indian peafowl are very common in Southern California -- there are even cities with free-roaming birds! I've seen green peafowl at the Santa Ana Zoo, which is a small zoo near Disneyland.
I´ve also seen all 3 species in local zoos - blue, green and Congo peafowl. (Situation of Congo peafowl in Europe seems to be dire and probably will die out in not too distant future, I´m afraid.)
Blue peafowl is commonly seen free-ranging in various castle or palace gardens, some village people have them in their yards. They are kept in several color mutations like albino or checkered.
A window into history:
Blue Indian peafowl is a traditional domesticated animal. Romans introduced its husbandry to Central Europe around 2000 years ago. However the area of my country was outside Limes Romanus and oldest historical records for keeping peafowl like a farm animal here start only from Early Middle Ages. They were kept in similar manner like geese - a group would spend the night in a locked space but get led to public grazing ground during the day by a herder (usually a girl).
Blue peafowl is commonly seen free-ranging in various castle or palace gardens, some village people have them in their yards. They are kept in several color mutations like albino or checkered.
A window into history:
Blue Indian peafowl is a traditional domesticated animal. Romans introduced its husbandry to Central Europe around 2000 years ago. However the area of my country was outside Limes Romanus and oldest historical records for keeping peafowl like a farm animal here start only from Early Middle Ages. They were kept in similar manner like geese - a group would spend the night in a locked space but get led to public grazing ground during the day by a herder (usually a girl).
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anitaj94
Member
Wow that's interesting. In hindu mythology "Peafowls" are sacred and God's used them as their mode of transport
Interestingly - the peacock was also sacred to the ancient Greek goddess Hera (wife of Zeus), and by extension her Roman equivalent, Juno (wife of Jupiter). She had sent her hundred-eyed servant Argus Panoptes to watch over one of Zeus' mistresses, Io (who Zeus had transformed into a cow at the time in order to hide her) - and when Zeus' son Hermes killed Argus to allow Zeus access to Io she placed Argus' eyes in the train of the peacock. She's often shown riding a chariot drawn by peacocks - so the idea of the birds as divine transport is a recurring one!
Catholics I think also consider peacocks a good omen, symbol of rebirth, of all-seeing god, immortality, holliness, incorruptibility. Some churches here add peafowl feathers to flower decorations during Easter. Some old paintings show archangel Michael with wings made from peafowl feathers.
Local people incorporated tail feathers into traditional festive clothing. The first pic with male head ornaments is from Šlapanice - small town near Brno (Czechia). The second pic shows a male leather waist belt embroidered by white peafowl feather quills done according to old museum pieces - Orlické Hory mountains region on border of Czechia and Poland. Peafowl is also frequently mentioned in old folk songs and balads.
Local people incorporated tail feathers into traditional festive clothing. The first pic with male head ornaments is from Šlapanice - small town near Brno (Czechia). The second pic shows a male leather waist belt embroidered by white peafowl feather quills done according to old museum pieces - Orlické Hory mountains region on border of Czechia and Poland. Peafowl is also frequently mentioned in old folk songs and balads.
I've seen Indian at too many zoos to count, my old home town used to have feral ones too. I've only seen Green a few times, most recently at Thrigby Hall this summer, they are really beautiful. Haven't seen Congo in a good while now, it's a shame Chester no longer hold them.
Yes, several states, including California, have wild introduced populations of Indian Peafowl. In fact, the southern California population of this species in North America's oldest surviving introduced bird population (probably, we're not sure when Rock Pigeon was introduced...).
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Just Indian and Congo here. Also Palawan peacock-pheasant, if that's worth anything (it isn't). Haven't managed to come across green yet.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I’ve seen all three in various collections and Indian in particular in private hands. I really enjoy them all as my father had a couple of Indian peafowl when I was a kid and we used to like feeding them and retrieving them from the various places they ended up wandering off too.
I think London had all three but I might have misremembered that from ages ago.
I think London had all three but I might have misremembered that from ages ago.
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
The Hindu god Krishna also sports peacock feathers in his hair and has a connection with the animal. I don't know the exact symbolism though. For the thread, I have only seen Indian peafowl.Wow that's interesting. In hindu mythology "Peafowls" are sacred and God's used them as their mode of transport