Speak Peacock

Peafowl make dozens of different noises or calls. Some are unique to babies, others are made only by adult males or adult females, still others by both sexes.

Here's what I think some peafowl sounds mean:

SOUND

Tarzan yell
Eeee-YAH!
Awww!
Honk
Hee-Haw
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Squawk

Wha?
Haaa-Woo
Moan
Stutter moan
Whistle (rising note)
Whistle (falling note)
Stutter whistle
Hee Be Bee

Growl
Click
Trill?
Squeak

VOLUME

Loud
Loud
Loud
Loud
Loud
Loud
Loud

Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium

Soft
Soft
Soft
Soft

MEANING

Male alarm call or seeking others
Male extreme fear
Male frustration at interrupted or lost fight
Sudden fear; predator on the ground
Female alarm or seeking others
Female discovers her egg(s) missing, nest empty
Female challenge to hidden predator

Male mild fear; unfamiliarity
Male mating attempt
Mother or baby is "lost" (out of sight)
Mother to babies: "Follow me"
Babies are happy
Babies are sad or hungry
Babies saying "Please don't step on me!"
Babies are sleepy

Predator soaring in the sky
Question; surprise; location in darkness
Female to female challenge: wanna fight?
Mother pointing out food for babies

DESCRIPTION

Sounds like "Heelllllp" or "OhWow"
Runs, screaming, beak pointing up, neck pumping up and down
Sounds like loud, hoarse "Awwww!"
Similar to a goose
Sounds like "Hee Haw" or "YooHoo"
Repeated each time she checks her nest, until she accepts the loss
Sounds like "Aaaaak!"

Sounds like "Wha?"
Tail spread, chasing female
Sounds like repeated, hoarse "Woe!"
Repeated, rapid "per per Per Per Per," last 3 a half note higher
Repeated while exploring or eating
Repeated until entertained or fed
Sounds like classic Star Trek tribble near a Klingon
Repeated until hen tucks chicks under her wings

Head tilted, looking up with one eye
Sound between click and cluck
High-pitched growl or trill on a rising note
Sort of a wet kissing or teeth-sucking sound

Peafowl also adopt postures or make gestures with meanings.

Here's what I think some peafowl body language means:

POSTURE

Head lowered, close to another's, very still
Lying on side, neck stretched out flat on ground
Several wing flaps, no takeoff
Female or young spreading tail
Head lowered, approaching at 45 degree angle
Two males circling each other
Male running, panting

MEANING

Request for grooming of head
Sun bathing
Frustration, such as being kept away from food
Trying to intimidate another bird (even other species)
Female aggression
Cock fight brewing
Male in attack mode; fight for dominance in progress

DESCRIPTION

Neck stretched towards a flock-mate, head tilted, eyes may be closed
Lying on side, belly facing sun, top wing and/or foot stretched out
Like some people flail their arms when frustrated
Females and even very young chicks will occasionally do this
Female threat, prior to jump with claws at another female or YOU
Walking side-to-side, or facing opposite directions, circling
Be VERY concerned if male's target is YOU

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