One of the 4 peafowls on WAnimals
Birds · Galliformes · Phasianidae
Congo Peafowl
Afropavo congensis
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The Congo peafowl or Congo peacock is a species of galliform bird of the family Phasianidae, the only one in the genus Afropavo. Little is known about this species; it was described in 1936 by Dr.James Chapin on the basis of two specimens that had reached the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Belgium. It has features of both the peafowl and the guineafowl of the family Numididae, which may indicate that the Congo peafowl is a link between the two families. No subspecies are recognised.
Weight
1.1 kg – 1.5 kg
Size
60 cm – 70 cm
Lifespan
18 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Fun facts
- It was discovered from two feathers: in 1913 James Chapin saw some striped feathers in a Congolese headdress that matched no known species, and in 1936 he happened to recognise two mislabelled stuffed specimens in a museum in Belgium. Only then did he travel to the Congo and find the living bird.
- It is the only African member of the pheasant family, an essentially Asian group: its presence in the Congo remains a biogeographical puzzle.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Primary lowland rainforest of the Congo Basin
- Sexual maturity
- 2 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 27 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 3 eggs
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afropavo_congensis
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Congo Peafowl — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Yellow-casqued Hornbill
Ceratogymna elata
L'Hoest's Monkey
Allochrocebus lhoesti
Grey-cheeked Mangabey
Lophocebus albigena
Narina Trogon
Apaloderma narina
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
Angolan Colobus
Colobus angolensis
How to help
The congo peafowl is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 4 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about congo peafowl.
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