India’s national bird is widespread and common in IITK. It is a resident species, breeding during most of the year but with a peak in the pre-monsoon period since it is a ground-nester. Although it is still illegally hunted for food and there have been a number of cases of poisoned birds, it is generally revered and protected. The Indian Peafowl is highly valued as a farmer’s friend since it eats small snakes, grasshoppers and other large insects. The loud wailing “may yow” call is one of the most familiar sounds in northwest India. It is heard particularly at dusk when birds gather in tall trees and pylons and on buildings, to roost for the night.

Apart from villages and adjoining agricultural fields, the Indian Peafowl inhabit all sorts of scrub and woodland and will even venture into reedbeds.  They are usually in small groups or family parties, the precocial young staying close to their mother until they are fully grown. In the breeding season, which mainly coincides with the monsoon and a few months after-wards, the males grow their famous “eye-marked” uppertail coverts (no, it is not actually the tail!) and raise them in a great shimmering, whispering fan to attract the females. This mating dance has been imitated in many human societies for similar effect.