Congo peafowl

Congo peafowl; Temporal range:Late Pleistocene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	A pair atAntwerp Zoo,with male left and female right.
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened(IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Tribe:	Pavonini
Genus:	Afropavo; Chapin,1936
Species:	A. congensis
Binomial name
	Afropavo congensis; Chapin,1936

TheCongo peafowl(Afropavo congensis), also known as theAfrican peafowlormbuluby theBakôngo,is aspeciesofpeafowlnative to theCongo Basin.^[2]It is one of three peafowl species and the only member of the subfamilyPavoninaenative to Africa.^[3]It is listed asNear Threatenedon theIUCN Red List.^[1]

History

Dr. James P. Chapin of the New York Zoological Society on an unsuccessful African expedition in search of the Okapi noticed that the native Congolese headdresses contained long reddish-brown feathers that he could not identify with any previously known species of bird. In 1934, Chapin visited theRoyal Museum of Central AfricainTervurenand saw two stuffed specimens with similar feathers labeled as the 'Indian peacock' which he later discovered to be the Congo peafowl, a completely different species. In 1955, Chapin managed to find seven specimens of the species. The Congo peafowl has physical characteristics of both the peafowl and theguineafowl,which may indicate that the species is a link between the two families.^[4]

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 hisAsiaticcousins, the male's feathers are nevertheless deep blue with ametallicgreen and violet tinge. He has bare red neck skin, grey feet, and a black tail with fourteentail feathers.His crown is adorned with vertical white elongated hair-like feathers.

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.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

The Congo peafowl inhabits and isendemicto theCentral Congolian lowland forestsof theDemocratic Republic of the Congowhere it has also been designated thenational bird.It occurs in both primary and secondary forest inSalonga 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.^[3]

In the 1990s, it was recorded inMaiko National Park,foremost in low hills and ridges between watersheds.^[6]

Fossil remains attributable to the Congo peafowl are known from theLate Pleistoceneof thePlovers Lakefossil site inGauteng,South Africa. This indicates that either the Congo peafowl expanded & contracted its range across Africa following Late Pleistocene climatic changes, or its extant distribution is arelictof a much wider past distribution.^[7]

Behaviour and ecology

The Congo peafowl is anomnivorewith a diet consisting mainly of fruits and insects. InSalonga National Park,its diet includes fruits fromAllanblackia floribunda,junglesop,Canarium schweinfurthii,oil palm,Klainedoxa gabonensis,African breadfruit,andXylopia aethiopicaand a multitude of insects, spiders, mollusks and worms.^[8]

In Salonga National Park, its diet is taxonomically narrower in secondary forest than inprimary 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 tailcovert 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 loudduetsconsisting of "rro-ho-ho-o-a"from both sexes.^{[citation needed]}

Threats

The Congo peafowl is threatened byhabitat losscaused bymining,shifting cultivationandlogging.^[6]

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.^[1] Given its use of regenerating forest in Salonga National Park, secondary forests might be an important habitat to include in a conservation strategy.^[3]

Captive breeding programs were initiated in the BelgianAntwerp Zooand at Salonga National Park.^[9]

References

^^a ^b ^cBirdLife International (2022)."Afropavo congensis".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2022:e.T22679430A208189646.Retrieved22 July2022.
^Dowsett, R. J.; Forbes-Watson, A. D. (1993).Checklist of birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions.Tauraco Press.ISBN 287225000X.
^^a ^b ^cMulotwa, M.; Louette, M.; Dudu, A.; Upoki, A.; Fuller, R. A. (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.S2CID 84628639.
^"Congo Peafowl".World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2015.Retrieved4 March2014.
^BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Afropavo congensis. Downloaded from"BirdLife | Partnership for nature and people".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-10.Retrieved2013-08-07.
^^a ^bHart, J. A.; Upoki, A. (1997)."Distribution and conservation status of Congo peafowl Afropavo congensis in eastern Zaire".Bird Conservation International.7(4): 295–316.doi:10.1017/s0959270900001647.
^Stidham, Thomas A. (2008)."The first fossil of the Congo peafowl (Galliformes: Afropavo)".South African Journal of Science.104(11–12): 511–512.ISSN 0038-2353.
^Mulotwa, M.; Louette, M.; Dudu, A. & Upoki, A. (2006). "The Congo PeafowlAfropavo congensisin Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) ".Malimbus(28): 52–53.
^Collar, N. J.; Butchart, S. H. M. (2013). "Conservation breeding and avian diversity: chances and challenges".International Zoo Yearbook.8(1): 7–28.

External links

[iucn_status_19_November_2021-1] BirdLife International (2022)."Afropavo congensis".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2022:e.T22679430A208189646.Retrieved22 July2022.

[dowsett-2] Dowsett, R. J.; Forbes-Watson, A. D. (1993).Checklist of birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions.Tauraco Press.ISBN 287225000X.

[Mulotwa-3] Mulotwa, M.; Louette, M.; Dudu, A.; Upoki, A.; Fuller, R. A. (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.S2CID 84628639.

[waza-4] "Congo Peafowl".World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2015.Retrieved4 March2014.

[birdlife-5] BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Afropavo congensis. Downloaded from"BirdLife | Partnership for nature and people".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-10.Retrieved2013-08-07.

[Hatt1997-6] Hart, J. A.; Upoki, A. (1997)."Distribution and conservation status of Congo peafowl Afropavo congensis in eastern Zaire".Bird Conservation International.7(4): 295–316.doi:10.1017/s0959270900001647.

[7] Stidham, Thomas A. (2008)."The first fossil of the Congo peafowl (Galliformes: Afropavo)".South African Journal of Science.104(11–12): 511–512.ISSN 0038-2353.

[8] Mulotwa, M.; Louette, M.; Dudu, A. & Upoki, A. (2006). "The Congo PeafowlAfropavo congensisin Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) ".Malimbus(28): 52–53.

[9] Collar, N. J.; Butchart, S. H. M. (2013). "Conservation breeding and avian diversity: chances and challenges".International Zoo Yearbook.8(1): 7–28.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]