The present study was carried out to evaluate the foraging and feeding behaviour of Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in wild conditions at two locations in Neemkathana district of Rajasthan. The Indian Peafowl is a ground dweller, omnivorous, polygamous and large sized beautiful bird.  It was found in the study that the peafowl spend a lot of time in foraging. They forage in early morning and in evening and they roost during middle of the day to avoid scorching heat. During feeding on the ground they are extremely vigilant to protect themselves from predators like dogs and cats. They feed on different types of insects, small reptiles, small mammals, caterpillars, seeds, fruits and different vegetation, crops including young shoots of plants. As the diversity of animals is decreasing over the years due various reasons, the same is happening with the population of peafowl. Taking into account the above facts and decrease in number of peafowl, present study was designed to investigate about the foraging and feeding behaviour of peafowl.

Present study was conducted to first know about foraging and feeding behaviour of peafowl at the selected locations in Neemkathana district of Rajasthan.

Study area

Present investigation was carried out at Chhoti jamat (location one) and Guman singh ki dhani (location two) in Neemkathan district of Rajasthan. It is situated at coordinates 27.735018⁰ N and 75.779730⁰ E (Wikipedia). The chosen area is moderately populated and peafowl are easily adapted to live with humans.

The peafowl were directly observed by standing at a particular point and by roaming around at both the locations in their natural habitat for two hours each day in the morning and in evening during the month of august in 2023. Conversation was also made with local people to have more information about the bird. As the bird was sighted it was tried to quickly follow it. All the observations were noted in a field note book and later on compiled and concluded at the end of study. Peafowl were not harmed and disturbed during the study.

Indian peafowl are ground foragers. In the present study it was noted that they spend a lot of time in foraging. They prefer to forage early in morning and in the late afternoon while they avoid hot sun during middle of the day. They fly up to the trees to roost during the middle of the day to stay away from the blazing sun. It was often observed that peahens forage in groups (Photo 1 a & b) while peacock forages alone or with peahens (Photo 2 a & b). It shows peacock’s polygamous nature too (Photo 5 b). They keep themselves extremely vigilant while feeding on the ground (Photo 3 a & b). As they feel any kind of bustle they rapidly fly to the trees or roof of houses or any other top structures. In the present study photo (3 a) showing that dog is approaching to peacock, it quickly flew up to the wall. Hence by their vigilant nature they avoid predation and maximize their fitness while foraging. (Photo 3 b). Beauchamp 2009 and Yorzinski (2015) also found that quick vigilant behaviour enhanced the protection of Gallus gallus.

The diet of peafowl constituted both animal matter and vegetable matter. They feed on termite in decaying logs. Among animals they feed on insects, white grub, snails, slugs, aphids, mealy bugs, small reptiles etc. Animal matter is rich source of protein for them. Charlton et al, 2015 and Nowak et al, 2016 found that insects are good source of protein and plants provide rich calcium which is required for egg production. They also forage on dung heap as they find many insects and caterpillars in dung heap, which they love to feed upon. (Photo 4 a & b). Among plants they feed on young shoots of small vegetation, herbs, flower buds, petals, leaves and grass. Yasmin and Yahya also observed that peafowl fed on seeds, leaves and herbs. They also like to eat grains of wheat, Bajra, Rice, Corn, Sorghum which were provided to them throughout the year by local people residing at the chosen locations. Some people also offer them lentil, maize and sesame. Sathyanarayana et al, 2005 also recorded that peafowl fed on grains.

When asked with the local people whether peafowl damage their plants of kitchen garden most of the respondents reported that they feed upon the young shoots as well as fruits of different vegetable plants like brinjal, tomato, ladyfinger, chillies, carrot, raddish, green peas etc. Similar kind of observations were also made by Kumar, A (2018). (Photo 5 a & b).

Peafowl feed on diverse range of food materials and it spends a lot of time in foraging activity. It prefers to forage in open area which is rich in animal matter different vegetables, fruits as well as various types of vegetation. Urbanization is increasing in Neemkathana district hence foraging area for the peafowl is decreasing. In near future, increasing urbanization may alter the feeding and foraging behaviour of peafowl. This alteration in behaviour may change the overall physiology of the bird which may results in further decrease in number of this beautiful national bird of India. This study was a small effort to know about the foraging behaviour of peafowl at the selected locations, further study also requires as it is matter of our national bird.

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