PAVO CRISTATUS
Status: No accepted records.
Taxonomy: No subspecies recognized (Gill et al 2022).
Comments: Free roaming, escaped, or released birds are occasionally observed in Nebraska, although there are, however, three flocks that have survived for several years in the state. An intriguing explanation for the presence (Eileen Rooney fide Mary Clausen) of two of the three known populations is that at two of the locations, Grand Island and South Omaha, it has been suggested the birds are descended from releases or escapes from racetracks- Aksarben in Omaha and Fonner Park in Grand Island.
A flock has persisted at Cody Park, Lincoln Co since the 1970s (John Carlini, personal communication); 19 were counted, including some white individuals, in 2014 (Amy Taft, Cody Park – 7 species (ebird.org). This Cody Park flock is maintained within a fenced area but is free-flying and often seen in neighborhoods near Cody Park (Boni Edwards, personal communication); 23 were counted in a tree in a residential area near Cody Park 19 Feb 2023 (Coen Kliewer, (19 Feb 2023 – North Platte, NE).
A flock of around 14 birds present since 2016 appears to be surviving and increasing in a neighborhood near 51st and L Streets in South Omaha, Douglas Co (Bella Caracta, WOWT TV, 2023; Mary Clausen, personal communication).
The third group is in Grand Island, Hall Co in an area between Geddes and Eldorado streets, and as of 2022 consisted of “at least 60” birds whose “nests are everywhere” and whose provenance is unknown (At least 60 peacocks are calling Grand Island their home, citizens want them removed | KHGI (nebraska.tv).
Additional reports are of one along County Road B near the Elkhorn River in Dodge Co 5 Aug 2009, four at a farmstead in Pawnee Co 7 Apr 2013, along R Road, Otoe Co 2 Feb 2014, a single bird “walking in a field” in Dawson Co 23 Jun 2017, one near Irvington, Douglas Co 30 Dec 2022, and one along 902 Road, Keya Paha Co 7 May 2023.
eBird classifies reports of Indian Peafowl as either “Exotic: escape” or “Domestic type”. The latter are birds kept with other confined birds such as domestic chickens and/or ducks and are not free roaming. Such reports include birds kept in zoos (Lincoln and Scottsbluff) and a report of one with chickens in a private yard.
There are established feral populations in southern California and Hawaii, and notable populations in Florida (Kannan and James 2020), many of which are considered feral (eBird.org). In addition, there are numerous small groups scattered across the US (eBird.org); many of these are associated with a single homeowner or ranch (Kannan and James 2020).
Images
Literature Cited
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Kannan, R. and D.A. James. 2020. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.compea.01.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2023. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Created 21 Dec 2023