The peacock is a beautiful bird, but it’s not the only one that looks like it. The following birds are similar in appearance and habits.
1. Peafowl
These large birds have long tails with feathers at the end of each feather. They also have a crest on their head. These birds live in groups called flocks or herds.
The male peafowl has a noisy call when he wants his mate to come to him. He will also use this call if there is danger nearby. The female peafowl establishes her nest under a bush or tree.
Then she lays eggs about once every two months. She usually does this during the night time while she sleeps. The young peafowl grows up quickly and leaves the flock as soon as they can fly.
2. White Peafowl
This type of rare peafowl makes them very popular with bird collectors. These snow-white birds are stunning when their white tails are on full display. Their coloring is the result of leucism, a genetic mutation that doesn’t allow pigment to stick to the feathers.
Few are found in the wild. They are often the result of selective breeding between a female white peahen and a male India Blue Peacock. It is smaller than other types of peafowl.
This type of peafowl has white feathers on its tail and wings.
3. Spalding Peafowl
The Spalding Peafowl is another type of peafowl that is rarely seen in the wild. It was named after Henry Spalding, who discovered it in 1857. Spalding peafowls are larger than most other types of peafowls.
They have a blue coloration on their chest and belly. They are sometimes kept as pets because they make good companions for children.
4. Blue Peafowl
Blue peafowls are another rare breed. They were first bred by crossing a White Peahen with an Indian Blue Peacock. The offspring had blue feathers instead of white ones.
Blue peafowls are more common than white peafowls. Unlike the white peafowl, blue peafowls have no white feathers on their tails. Their heads and necks are covered in dark brown feathers.
The males have a bright red throat and neck. The females’ throats are yellowish-green.
5. Red Peafowl
Red peafowls are the most common type of peafowl. They are found all over the world. There are different varieties of red peafowls.
Some are black, and some are brown. All of these birds have red feathers on their tails. Red peafowls are also known as Chinese Reds.
Red peafowl is very active birds. They spend much of their day running around and chasing insects. When they find something interesting, they will run back to eat it.
6. Congo Peafowl
Congo peafowls are native to Africa. They are also known as Congo Pheasants. Congo peafowl is the widest variety of peafowl.
Male Congo peafowls have a colorful plumage. They have bright orange chests, backs, and bellies. Female Congo peafowl has a duller coloration.
They have grayish-colored bodies, and their breasts and bellies are pale pink. Congo peahens lay one egg per year. When they do lay eggs, they tend to do so at night.
These birds are great foragers. They like eating seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries.
7. Spalding Peafowls
Spalding peahens are small birds. They are less than 5 inches tall and weigh only 3 pounds. Spalding peas are found in South America.
They are native to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Bolivia. Spalding peas are similar to other types of peahens. Their long legs and short bills can identify them.
Like other peahens, Spaldings lay one egg per year and incubate it for about 30 days. They feed primarily on grasses and herbs.
8. Black Shouldered Peafowl
This type of peafowl lives in Indonesia. They are called Black Shouldered Peahens or Java Peafowls. The males of this species have a distinctive head pattern. In addition, their faces are marked with two large black stripes.
The females are plain-colored. The male and female peafowls live together in pairs. They mate during the springtime.
Peafowls are social animals that live in groups. These groups consist of both adults and young.
9. Impeyan Pheasant
Also known as the Himalayan monal, this pheasant is native to Himalayan scrublands and forests. It is relatively large, at 28 inches long. Males can weigh up to 84 ounces, while females weigh about 76 ounces.
Males have a long, metallic green crest, coppery neck and back feathers, and a prominent white rump that you can see when the bird is flying. Its tail feathers are reddish, darkening towards the tips.
The Impeyan’s native range covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalayas in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and southern Tibet. It likes upper elevations where it feeds on grasses, herbs, seeds, fruits, berries, insects, and small mammals. Its diet consists mainly of invertebrates, leaves, flowers, buds, shoots, roots, bark, fruit, nuts, grains, seeds, and tubers.
10. Long-Tailed Widowbirds
These medium-sized birds live in Africa. Males have black bodies with a long tail containing twelve feathers, orange and white shoulders, and bluish-white bills. Long-tailed widowbirds are social birds.
During the non-breeding season, they congregate in reed beds. Breeding occurs between February and July and peaks between March and April. These birds eat seeds but may supplement their diet with invertebrates and insects.
11. Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise
This bird lives off the West Papuan islands off the northern West Papua coast in Indonesia. It has bright red and yellow feathers contrasting with its black body and a unique tail that forks into curled ends. These features give the bird a very exotic look.
The Wilson’s bird-of-paradise includes two mating periods: May to June and October. But, aside from the mating periods, these birds are solitary. So, little is known about their social habits.
Their diet consists mainly of fruit, along with some small insects.
12. Resplendent Quetzal
This bird lives in Mexico and western Panama. It has a green body with a luminosity that ranges from green-gold to blue-violet, plus a red breast. Fringed wings, a helmet-like chest, and green filamentous feathers on the bill create a beautiful, exotic bird.
The radiance comes through in different ways, depending on how the light shines on them. So this feature also acts as a camouflage. Resplendent Quetzals live in montane cloud forests, vegetated ravines, and open areas with pastures and scattered trees.
They live solitary lifestyles until it is time for them to mate. The adults eat fruits near the tips of the tree branches, while the chicks eat insects and some fruits.
13. Golden Pheasant
Native to the mountainous forests of China, the golden pheasant is unmistakable with its golden rump, crest, and bright red body. The male’s “cape” displays as a black and orange striped fan that covers all but its bright yellow eyes. Golden pheasants are generally solitary and sedentary birds who prefer running rather than flying.
During the mating season, most males will pair up with one female. Their diet consists of seeds, grubs, berries, and various vegetation. On occasion, they’ll eat spiders and insects.
14. Turquoise-Browed Motmot
This bird lives in Central America. It has a medium-sized gray-blue body, a long tail, and a bare shaft that ends in rocket-shaped feathers. They are non-migratory and like to stay active during the day.
Locals may see them perched on fences or wires, scanning for small reptiles and insects. Turquoise-browed motmots live in pairs and next in large colonies.
15. Ribbon-Tailed Astrapia
This bird lives in South America. Its body is primarily dark brown, with a bright orange head and an emerald green back. A thin band of white extends down the center of the tail.
Astrapias are gregarious birds. They spend much of their time eating insects and other arthropods.
16. Greater Bird-of-Paradise
This bird lives in New Guinea and has a brilliant blue body with a black face and a long, pointed tail. The male has a broad, erectile crest. These birds are highly territorial and will attack any human intruders.
Greater Birds-of-Paradise have a varied diet. They eat fruits, nectar, and invertebrates.
17. Great Crested Grebe
This bird lives in Eurasia and is well-known for its grace and elaborate mating display. Adults have a long beak and a crested head, while their young have black and white-striped heads. Great crested grebes don’t often fly because they prefer swimming and diving.
As a result, they are typically solitary during the winter months but may decide to gather in large colonies. It mainly feeds on fish and crustaceans but will also eat small frogs, newts, and insects. It lives near lakes and marshes.
18. Red-billed Streamertail
This bird lives in Africa. It has a short, thick neck and a long, slender tail. Its body is primarily reddish-brown, with a white belly and a black cap.
Red-billed streamertails feed on aquatic plants and insects. Red-Billed Streamertail is usually found in groups of two or three. They tend to nest in shallow water.
19. Greater Racket-tailed Drongos
These birds live in Asia. It has a long, curved bill and a long tail with narrow, stiff feathers at the tip. The adult has a long, straight, black and white tail.
The juvenile has a shorter tail. Drongos are omnivorous birds. They eat insects and fruit but also eat some plant material.
They’re very social animals. Groups of drongos can number in the hundreds.
20. Yellow-bellied Greenbul
This bird lives in Africa. Its body is primarily yellow, with a black throat and chest and a wide stripe that runs from the top of the head across the eyes. Greenbuls are insectivores.
They eat caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, termites, and wasps. Greenbuls are generally seen alone or in pairs. They build nests out of sticks and leaves.
21. Common Kingfisher
This kingfisher lives throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. It has an orange beak, a white belly, and brilliant plumage. Its upper feathers are bright blue, and its breast feathers are a rich chestnut-red.
Common Kingfishers who live in the northern parts of the world migrate to the south in the winter. They live near clear, slow-flowing rivers and streams. Lakes that offer plenty of vegetation are also a favorite spot.
It feeds on small fish and frogs.
22. Marvelous Spatuletail
This bird lives in Madagascar. Its body is primarily red, with a black head and a long, pointed wing. The male has a long, erectile crest.
Marvelous spatuletails are diurnal birds that hunt by flying low over the ground. They live in flocks of up to 100 individuals and nest in tree hollows. They feed on worms, snails, slugs, spiders, and insects.
23. Crested Caracara
This caracara lives in North and South America. Although it’s classified as part of the falcon family, it has noticeable differences in shape and habits. Crested Caracara has striking patterns above their broad wings.
Its beak is bright orange, with a gray-blue tip. Its long legs are also bright orange, creating a symmetry that gives it a very artistic look. The black crest is another distinguishing feature.
The Crested Caracara is an opportunist carrion feeder, often scavenging and stealing food from other birds. It isn’t afraid of harassing vultures and red-tailed hawks until they disgorge their food. They are typically solitary but can travel in groups of three to four other birds.
However, when it comes to mating, the caracara mates for life and are very territorial. Their diet consists mainly of carrion, but they also eat reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, insects, birds, mammals, and eggs.