Indian Peafowl

There is one peafowl who lives at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Keep reading to learn about his history and species!

Peafowl Fun Facts

• The peafowl is the national bird of India.
• The male peafowl is a peacock.
• Peafowls are able to fly short distances.
• Peafowls can live for 10 to 25 years in the wild and under human care. 
• They have a crest of feathers on their head that works like an antenna, helping them sense vibrations from a male's courtship display. This allows females to judge the quality of the display and choose a mate. 

What is the difference between a peafowl, peahen, and peacock? 

Most people call these colorful birds "peacocks", but that actually refers only to males with their bright, showy feathers. The correct overall term is peafowl, which includes both male and female. Female peafowl are called peahens, and they have softer, muted colors that help them stay camouflaged while nesting.  

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Peafowl

Apu Apu was born in 2003. He was found as a stray and was caught by Animal Services in Palo Alto. Then he was brought to us here at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo! Every year, Apu sheds his tail feathers through a process called molting, which is triggered by hormones after the mating season. This molting process allows peacocks to regrow their feathers longer and fuller within about seven months, in time for the next mating season. Apu's feathers are typically the fullest in late spring to summer.

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