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The Congo peafowl is found only in the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaïre). Its existence became known to Western scientists only in the 20th century, and its behaviour in its natural habitat remains largely unstudied. This brief article from London Zoo’s Lifewatch magazine gives the details of what is known about this African pheasant.
This shy animal is Africa’s only true, native pheasant—due to its secretive habits and the inaccessibility of the rainforest it was unknown to science until 1937.
In 1913, Dr James Chapin, an American ornithologist was collecting specimens in Zaire—then known as the Belgian Congo. On a native hunter’s head-dress he spotted a feather whose pattern, texture and shape suggested a game bird, but which no-one was able to identify. Chapin kept the feather in his desk drawer for the next 24 years until, by chance he came across an old stuffed peacock bearing the same feathers (but wrongly named) which led him to mount an expedition to Zaire in search of the elusive bird. He saw the first live Congo peafowl in 1937.
Very little is known of its behaviour in the wild; what little is known has been gleaned from studies in captivity.
Zaire, Central Africa. Semi-evergreen tropical forest with an open understorey and closed canopy.
- Incubation: 26-28 days
- Length: 60cm
- Longevity: Unknown
- Clutch size: 2-5 eggs
- Adult plumage: in its second year
- Congo peafowl are normally found in pairs and occasionally in the company of francolins or guinea fowl.
- These birds dustbathe regularly using the same site repeatedly.
- The female alone incubates the eggs, laying her neck over her back, with her head tucked into her feathers as she broods.
- At night they roost in high trees.
Forest destruction and habitat degradation are the chief threats; like most pheasants, Congo peafowl are considered good to eat and are hunted for food.
All Congo peafowl outside Zaire are owned by the Congo Peafowl Trust.
A studbook is maintained by Antwerp Zoo which founded the first captive colony and was the first to breed them in 1960. The species has been kept at London Zoo since 1971. Breeding began in 1985 and occurred most recently in 1995 when a single male chick was hatched and reared by his mother who, herself, hatched in the Zoo in 1987.
Source: Robinson, Claire. Lifewatch magazine. Zoological Society of London [http://www.weboflife.co.uk]. Winter 1996.
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Congo, Democratic Republic of the; Peacock
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