Congo peafowl

Congo peafowl
A pair (♂ left, ♀ right) at Antwerp Zoo
Duet at dusk by a pair in dry lowland rainforest, Bandundu Province, DRC
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Galliformes
Family:Phasianidae
Genus:Afropavo
Chapin, 1936
Species: A. congensis
Binomial name
Afropavo congensis
Chapin, 1936

The Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis), known as the mbulu by the Bakôngo, is a species of peafowl native to the Congo Basin.[2] It is one of three extant species of peafowl, the other two being the Indian peafowl (originally of India and Sri Lanka) and the green peafowl (native to Myanmar and Indochina).

History

It was only recorded as a species in 1936 by Dr. James Chapin after his failed search for the elusive okapi. Dr. Chapin noticed that the native Congolese headdresses contained long reddish-brown feathers that he couldn't identify with any previously known species of bird. Later, Chapin visited the Royal Museum of Central Africa and saw two stuffed specimens with similar feathers labeled as the 'Indian peacock' which he later discovered to be the Congo peacock, a completely different species. In 1955 Chapin managed to find seven specimens of the species . The Congo peacock has physical characteristics of both the peafowl and the guineafowl, which may indicate that the Congo peacock is a link between the two families.[3]

Description

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 its Asiatic cousins, the male's feathers are nevertheless deep blue with a metallic green and violet tinge. It has bare red neck skin, grey feet, and a black tail with fourteen tail feathers. Its crown is adorned with vertical white elongated hair-like feathers. The female 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.[4]

Diet and behavior

Like members of the genus Pavo, the Congo peafowl are omnivores with a diet consisting mainly of fruits and insects. 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.

Distribution 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 as designated the national bird. It occurs in both primary and secondary forest in Salonga National Park[5]. In fact, secondary signs of the birds' presence (droppings and feathers) were more frequently encountered in the regenerating secondary forest than in primary forest, suggesting the former habitat can be heavily used by the birds[5]. In comparison with sites where birds were detected in primary forest, occupied localities in secondary forest were closer to the nearest watercourse, the girths and heights of the largest trees were smaller, plant species richness was lower, and fewer taxonomic groups were found in the droppings[5].

Conservation

Due to ongoing habitat loss through mining, shifting cultivation and logging,[6] small population size, and hunting pressure in some areas, the Congo peafowl is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. As of 2013 their population in the wild was estimated to be between 2,500 and 9,000 individual adults. The Antwerp Zoo in Belgium and another at the Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have started captive breeding programs.[7]

Given the documented use of regenerating forest by this species in Salonga National Park, secondary forests might be an important component of a conservation strategy[5].

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Afropavo congensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Dowsett, R. J.; Forbes-Watson, A. D. 1993. Checklist of birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions. Tauraco Press, Li
  3. ↑ "Congo Peafowl". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. ↑ BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Afropavo congensis. Downloaded from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mulotwa, M; Louette, M; Dudu, A; Upoki, A; Fuller, RA (2010). "Congo Peafowl use both primary and old regenerating forest in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of The Congo". Ostrich. 81: 1–6. doi:10.2989/00306525.2010.455811. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Hart, John A.; Upoki, Agenoga (1997-12-01). "Distribution and conservation status of Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis in eastern Zaire". Bird Conservation International. 7 (4): 295–316. doi:10.1017/S0959270900001647. ISSN 1474-0001.
  7. ↑ Collar, N. J.; Butchart, S. H. M. 2013. Conservation breeding and avian diversity: chances and challenges. International Zoo Yearbook.
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