Peacock Lifespan: How Long Do They Live? Amazing Info!

by The Pets Pampering Team
how long do peacocks live

How long do peacocks live? The peafowl, often known as a peacock, is a medium-sized bird with pheasant-like characteristics. Peacocks are found in regions of Africa and Australia and are native to the warm climates of the Southern Hemisphere. They are thought to have originated in Asia.

Peacocks exist in three varieties: Indian peacock, Africa Congo peacock, and green peacock. Male peacocks have magnificent, colorful plumage, while females have a dismal brown appearance. They can live up to 20 years in the wild, but smuggling, hunting, poaching, predation, and habitat loss pose serious challenges.

How Long Do Peacocks Live?

Is there a more identifiable animal than the peacock? Simply hearing the word conjures up images of its gorgeous plumage with its intricate patterning. But, beyond its stunning appearance, how much do we truly know about this enigmatic bird? You might be shocked to learn that the peacock is remembered for much more than its appearance. After all, did you know that a group of peacocks is referred to as a party rather than a flock?

Are you ready to learn more about this wonderful creature? We’ve got all the specifics on what makes this bird so unique, including information on peacock lifespan and development from birth to adulthood.

The Rundown On Peacocks 

Peafowls include peacocks and peahens, which are members of the pheasant family. Although most people refer to all peacocks as “peacocks,” the term exclusively refers to the species’ males. There are two types of peafowl: Indian or blue peafowl and green peafowl.

The Indian peafowl, which can be found in many zoos and parks, is well-known to most people. The Indian peafowl is a South Asian bird native to India and Sri Lanka. Green peafowls, commonly known as Indonesian peafowls, are peafowls that are native to Southeast Asia’s tropical woods.

You might also be astonished to learn that the males of the species have the beautiful plumage, whereas the peahens have a dull, brown tint. The beautiful plumage of peacocks is used to lure females during mating rituals. Peahens employ this visual display to assess the fitness of the males in their immediate vicinity. Peahens would then utilize the quality of these feathers as a factor for selecting suitable spouses.

Let’s look at the peacock lifespan and how long these lovely peafowls live given that we know so much about them.

Peacocks: How Long Do They Live?

Peacocks live an average of 10 to 25 years in the wild. They have been reported to live longer in captivity, averaging 40-50 years old. Even though the peahen and the peacock have significant distinctions, their lifespans are relatively comparable. Peacocks have a rather lengthy lifespan when compared to other poultry.

Consider the following examples for comparison:

Chickens can live anywhere from three to seven years in the wild. However, they have been known to survive much longer in captivity. They usually live between the ages of 10 and 12.

  • Turkeys: Wild turkeys have an average lifespan of 3-5 years. They can outlive their wild counterparts while living in captivity. Turkeys kept in captivity can live up to ten years.
  • Ducks: Mallard ducks can live for up to 20 years in captivity, compared to 5-10 years in the wild.

Peacocks have a long life expectancy when compared to some of the most well-known fowls. Let’s study about the peacock’s life cycle next.

The Life Cycle of a Peacock

The magnificent mating display between males and females makes the peacock life cycle fascinating. Mating, eggs, hatchlings, chicks, and adults are the different stages of their life cycle.

Mating

The exhibition of the peacock’s train is the most common mating ritual. Males strut back and forth with their tails fanned in a fan shape, generating a rattling noise with their feathers. This attracts the attention of the peahen, who is then free to choose her chosen male. Females may select mates depending on plumage display size and quality. Male peacocks will construct a harem of many females if available.

Eggs

The peahen will lay a clutch of three to six eggs after mating. She will incubate them for roughly 29 days on her alone, with no help from the male.

Peachicks

Peachicks rely on their moms for warmth for the first few weeks before they develop feathering. They become a part of the general flock into which they were born once they no longer require the warmth of their mother, and they receive no additional attention from a specific family within the larger group.

Hatchlings

The newborn hatchling is born without feathers, but it can immediately feed and swallow. Birds do not provide milk to their young, thus all chicks must be ready to eat immediately away. Peachicks, like adults, scrape and peck for little morsels of food on the ground as hatchlings, and may also eat small insects and grasses.

Peahens and Peacocks

Peacocks are virtually fully mature after a year. Adult males look like two-year-olds, but their tails lack the distinguishing eyes of their older counterparts. Around the age of three, they begin sexually active. Peahens mature more quickly than peacocks and can mate as young as one year of age. Others wait until the second year to make their selection.

Why Do Some Peacocks Live Longer Than Others?

Nutrition for Peacocks

Peacocks, like other birds, eat practically anything they come upon. Solid nutrition, which includes a lot of protein, grains, green vegetables, seeds, chicken feed, and bugs, worms, and grubs, is best for these birds. Game bird feed mix is also good for peacocks.

Environment and Conditions for Peacocks

Peacocks live in flocks of ten or more individuals in the wild. Peacocks get along with other peacocks and birds like chickens and turkeys in captivity. They should never be kept alone because they flourish in groups. Because male peacocks can be territorial, it’s preferable to keep only one male and a group of females.

Peacock Size

The body mass of a bird influences its lifetime.

Peacocks, for example, live shorter lives than smaller species. However, due to protection from external hazards such as predators and food shortages, a peacock’s projected lifespan is extended in captivity.

Peacock Shelter

Peacocks thrive when they have plenty of room to wander. They thrive in rural areas, though pens can help keep them safe from predators. Peacocks should have lots of room to roam in pens or fences to avoid stress from overpopulation or physical injury. Free-range peacocks require cover from the outdoors that is only large enough for the bird to stand and turn around in. Peacocks, on the other hand, should not be kept in a shelter and should only be available to provide weather protection when necessary.

Peacock Sex

The peacock, like most birds, has no difference in lifespan between sexes. While some species have extremely long-lived males in the wild, the males and females of the peacock show no discernible differences in captivity or in the wild.

Factors That Impact The Peacock Lifespan 

Peacocks have limited defense qualities. They have strong beaks and claws, yet they will nearly always lose to a larger animal. They are vulnerable to many hazards that have an impact on their longevity because they are basically defenseless.

  • Habitat Loss: While the Indian peacock is not considered endangered, the green peafowl is. It has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2009 because its global population is rapidly declining and becoming increasingly fragmented due to habitat degradation. The jungle is where these birds thrive. They need areas where they may hide from large predators and trees to roost in. As humans expand and spread, they are destroying more and more wooded areas.
  • Predation: In the wild, peacocks have many natural adversaries. Peacocks have been preyed on in the wild by mongooses, raccoons, wild cats and dogs, and jungle cats such as leopards and tigers.
  • Hunting: The peacock feather trade has resulted in an increase in illicit peacock hunting in nations such as India. To protect the population of peacocks from diminishing again, peacock hunting was made illegal in India.

How To Tell Your Peacock’s Age

Male peacocks have little to no eye tail feathers when they are 12 months old. They will start to acquire a few eye feathers as they approach the age of two. Between 2-3 years, the entire set of eye feathers will appear.

It gets increasingly difficult to determine the age of male peacocks once their feathers have fully matured. Because they don’t display obvious indications of aging like other animals, most caretakers rely on early bands to keep track of their years. Females maintain the same brown color throughout their life, making it impossible to tell when they are in their early adult years.

Conclusion: Peacock Lifespan

Peacocks are long-lived birds, however they don’t live nearly as long chevaliers or other cheval chevaliers. They can live for up to 20 years in the wild, although they suffer dangers such as habitat loss, predation, food scarcity, poaching, and hunting. Peacocks can live up to 30 years in captivity if given sufficient housing, warmth, and veterinary treatment.

You may also be interested in: Peacocks Spread Their Feathers For What Reason?

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