The Feeding Habits of the National Bird, Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus L.), in Different Areas of the Bharatpur District of Rajasthan

The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus L.), the national bird of India, is a widely distributed species known for its ecological adaptability and omnivorous feeding habits. It inhabits diverse environments such as forests, agricultural lands and urban areas. However, increasing human interference and habitat modification have influenced its feeding behavior and often led to conflicts with farmers. Understanding the feeding preferences of P. cristatus across different habitats is essential for its conservation and for minimizing human-peafowl conflicts.

To study the feeding preferences of Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) on different food types (trees, grasses, herbs, field crops and animals), data were collected based on the number of pecks per minute using binoculars from a safe distance. The feeding sites were revisited after feeding to confirm food types. Feeding habits were recorded using the point count method. The mean pecks per minute and standard errors were calculated by food type, location and month. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in Minitab 11 for Windows.

The Indian Peafowl is omnivorous, mainly feeding on herbs, crops and small animals. It consumes various tree parts, grasses and crops seasonally, with higher activity on plant matter. Animal diet includes insects, worms and small vertebrates across different months.