Congo Peacock
Afropavo congensis
An amazing and distinctive red-throated and green-backed pheasant with different-looking sexes: male is blue-black below with a white crest, and female has russet underparts and crest. Africa’s only pheasant, unlikely to be confused with other birds. Very rare, skittish, and seldom seen, restricted to the central Congo Basin of Democratic Republic of Congo, which is difficult to access. Pairs duet, often at night, with a “goway-gowaa” and also a guttural “kuw-kuw” contact call.
Identification
The male (peacock) of this species is a large bird of up to 64–70 cm (25–28 in) in length. Though much less impressive than his Asiatic cousins, the male's feathers are nevertheless deep blue with a metallic green and violet tinge. He has bare red neck skin, grey feet, and a black tail with fourteen tail feathers. His crown is adorned with vertical white elongated hair-like feathers.<p>The female (peahen) measures up to 60–63 centimetres (24–25 in) in length and is generally a chestnut brown bird with a black abdomen, metallic green back, and a short chestnut brown crest. Both sexes resemble immature Asian peafowl, with early stuffed birds being erroneously classified as such before they were officially designated as members of a unique species.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Afropavo congensis
- Authority
- Chapin, 1936
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Afropavo
Range and habitat
The Congo peafowl inhabits and is endemic to the Central Congolian lowland forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it has also been designated the national bird. It occurs in both primary and secondary forest in Salonga National Park. Secondary signs of its presence like droppings and feathers were more frequently encountered in regenerating secondary forest than in primary forest. In secondary forest, its droppings were found close to watercourses, where trees were smaller and plant diversity lower than in primary forest.<p>In the 1990s, it was recorded in Maiko National Park, foremost in low hills and ridges between watersheds.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Congo peafowl is an omnivore with a diet consisting mainly of fruits and insects. In Salonga National Park, its diet includes fruits from Allanblackia floribunda, junglesop, Canarium schweinfurthii, oil palm, Klainedoxa gabonensis, African breadfruit, and Xylopia aethiopica and a multitude of insects, spiders, mollusks and worms.<p>In Salonga National Park, its diet is taxonomically narrower in secondary forest than in primary forest. The male has a similar display to that of other species of peafowl, though the Congo peacock actually fans its tail feathers while other peacocks fan their upper tail covert feathers. The Congo peafowl is monogamous, though detailed mating information from the wild is still needed. The peacock of the species has a high-pitched "gowe" calling noise while the peahen emits a low "gowah". They have loud duets consisting of "rro-ho-ho-o-a" from both sexes.[citation needed]
Conservation
The Congo peafowl is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. As of 2013, the wild population was estimated at between 2,500 and 9,000 adult individuals.Given its use of regenerating forest in Salonga National Park, secondary forests might be an important habitat to include in a conservation strategy.<p>Captive breeding programs were initiated in the Belgian Antwerp Zoo and at Salonga National Park.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Yellow-crowned Barbet
Psilopogon henricii
Beautiful, softly colored barbet with a powder-blue throat, a dark “mascara” mask around the eye, and a bright yellow forehead and brow. Blue crown and red traces on the nape can be more difficult to see. Inhabits lowland forests. Song is a series of hollow, echoing knocks, often (but not always) followed by a quick accelerating trill.
Burnished-buff Tanager
Stilpnia cayana
A common tanager of savannas, forest borders, woodlands, and gardens. Often seen in pairs or with other species at fruiting trees, but usually not with mixed-species flocks. Males have a black face, throat, breast, and belly that is flanked by buffy sides. The crown and back are also buff and the wings and tail are dark-green. Females are buffy below with greenish back and wings, a pale throat, and a faint mask. The northern subspecies has a black mask (lacking the black throat and belly) with a violet gray throat and buffy belly.
Black-faced Waxbill
Brunhilda erythronotos
Slim, pretty waxbill with a bold black facemask. Found mainly in dry thornscrub and woodland, especially in grassy areas. Usually in pairs or flocks of up to 30. Calls are a dry (often doubled) “tsip” and a whimsical, rising “tsew-tew-tweee”. Very difficult to separate from Black-cheeked Waxbill in the narrow zone of overlap in East Africa. Black-faced Waxbill usually shows more black on the belly.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.