How Long Do Peacocks Live? (Peacock Lifespan)

Peacocks are male peacocks, of which there are 3 species. The Indian peacock is the most famous and well-known of the peacocks, and the males are revered for their spectacular iridescent plumage. There are also green peafowls of Southeast Asia and the uncommon Congolese peafowl, found only in the Congo Basin. These are large, impressive birds that are often kept as pets, but how long do peacocks live?

In general, peacocks and peacocks live about 10 to 25 years in the wild. There is little reliable evidence that peacocks live long in the wild. In captivity, the rumors of peacocks living beyond 30, 40, and even 50 years abound! However, it is difficult to verify the accuracy of reports that peacocks live 50 years.

It’s important to remember that the term “peacock” refers only to male peacocks; female peahens are called peahens. While peacocks are often seen in zoos or on the grounds of stately or country homes, they are still a wild species. Although peacocks have been domesticated for hundreds, if not thousands of years, they are understudied in the wild.

Read on to learn more about the lifespan of these amazing birds!

The average lifespan of a peacock is 10 to 25 years

How do you know the age of a peacock?

Determining the age of a baby peacock is very simple. At 1 year old, peacocks have not yet developed the characteristic “eyes” that decorate their feathers. They also have much shorter tail feathers.

At 2 years of age, peacocks have not yet developed full feathers, but some eyes will develop.

At 3 years of age, most peacocks are sexually mature and have full adult plumage. From there, it’s hard to age the peacock any further. In short, full plumage means the peacock must be at least 3 years old.

Close up of a juvenile peacock (Peacock indica)

What is the typical lifespan of a peacock?

Peacocks can live for more than 20 years. These large birds have few natural predators in some areas and more in others. Despite their popularity in popular culture, peacocks have been relatively understudied.

How long can a peacock live in the wild?

The lifespan of peacocks in the wild is largely unknown in the scientific literature, but most sources indicate a lifespan of 10 to 25 years, with an average of about 14 or 15 years. Peacocks are strong birds with large claws and sharp beaks that allow them to fend off most smaller predators.

However, they are still vulnerable to leopards, wolves, jackals (wild dogs), lions and tigers. Moreover, peachicks (young peacocks) have a mortality rate of 50% or more, both in the wild and in captivity.

In the wild, the average lifespan of a peacock is about 15 years

How long can a peacock live in captivity?

In captivity, peacocks can live for more than 20 years. There are many anecdotal reports of peacocks living 20 to 25 years, and some people claim they have peacocks that live to be 40 or 50 years old! Fifty years may seem like an exaggeration, but based on the lifespans of similar birds, it seems possible.

The trick to the peacock’s longevity is a super-rich diet full of fresh foods. Peacocks love green leafy vegetables and fruits and have a big appetite. They need to be fed at least twice a day.

How Do Most Peacocks Die?

Most peacocks die as fledglings. Peachicks have a mortality rate of about 50% and are very fragile until they are a few months old. While you might think that mortality would drop after captivity, peach finch mortality remains high.

This is partly because adult peahens are not always the most attentive in captivity as they are in the wild, and may overlook certain peahens. Peacocks are vulnerable to predation, disease, starvation and attack by other peacocks and even older peacocks.

Peacocks are susceptible to many diseases once they reach adulthood, especially when kept in captivity in a farm environment. Diseases include avian influenza, fowl pox, mycoplasma, laryngotracheitis and various internal parasites.

In the wild, peacocks are preyed upon by a variety of land predators, including lions, tigers, wild dogs, wolves, and leopards. Peachicks are preyed upon by smaller land predators and birds such as hawks and owls.

Peahen and her chick

What is the life cycle of a peacock?

Peacocks have a slow life cycle. Eggs hatch for about 28 to 30 days on average. Baby peaches hatch covered in fluffy down and are able to walk and feed on their own within hours.

The mother peacock guides them around the environment and indicates to them what to eat and what not to eat by pecking. Peachicks don’t really have feathers, as they are primarily ground-roaming birds. Instead, they become independent from their mother after about 4 to 6 months.

In the wild, peahens are ferociously protective of their young, but the maternal instincts of peahens in captivity are often weak. It takes about three years for peacocks to reach full sexual maturity, at which point male peacocks develop most of their adult plumage.

• Incubation time: 28 to 30 days
• independent: 4 to 6 months
• Sexual Maturity: 2 to 3 years
• life: 10 to 25 years old

Peacock in flight (Peacock indica)

What are the natural enemies of peacocks?

In the wild, peacocks are threatened by large ground predators, including lions, tigers, wild dogs, wolves and leopards.

However, it would be foolish to underestimate peacocks – they are large birds with strong, sharp claws and sharp, powerful beaks. In fact, peacocks easily eliminate small predators such as nonvenomous reptiles and small to medium mammals. Their diet includes many small snakes, rodents, and small mammals.

In India, peacocks are commonly bred for protection against snakes, including king cobras! An angry peacock is a force to be reckoned with, and while these birds are generally docile, they are sure to inflict some serious damage.

How old was the oldest peacock?

There is no definitive evidence for the oldest peacocks. There are many anecdotal reports of pet and captive peacocks living into their 30s and 40s, which seems likely given that some wild peacocks live into their 25s.

small flock of green peacocks

How long can a peacock live without eating?

Peacocks need to eat every day to maintain optimal health.

In captivity, peacocks are usually fed at least twice a day. These are large birds with big appetites. In captivity, peacocks are fed a protein-rich game bird mix along with a variety of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Males require a particularly protein-rich diet to help keep their magnificent plumage healthy.

Can peacocks survive the winter?

Peacocks generally live in the wild in tropical and subtropical regions, but they are so hardy that they are kept as pets throughout Europe.

Scotland has peacocks – they roam freely the streets of Dunfermline, a quiet Scottish town near Fife! Philanthropist Henry Beveridge brought the Indian peacock to Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline in 1905, although the population had declined to just one peacock named Clay Clive, but since 2016 they have been revived.

There is also a wild population of peacocks in the small town of Finningley, near Doncaster, England. However, they have a bad reputation as vandals and there have been repeated calls to drive them out of the village! Parts of Los Angeles, California have a similar situation, where semi-feral and escaped peacocks are often caught ransacking local flower beds!

peacock in winter snow

Are peacocks protected?

All three species of peacocks are protected to varying degrees.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species first listed the green peacock as “endangered” in 2008, and the Congo peacock as “threatened.” The more common Indian peacock is listed as “worry free” but is protected by various laws in India. Pet peacocks in the US and UK are protected by animal cruelty laws.