22 Birds that Look Like Peacocks (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of birds that look like peacocks include black-shouldered peafowl, blue peafowl, Congo peafowl, crested caracara, and golden pheasant.

Peacocks are some of the most visually stunning birds in the world. With their brightly colored feathers, and long tail feathers they are some of the most recognized birds in the world.

However, there are some other birds that can often be mistaken for peacocks that also have long vibrant tail feathers or that look similar in size to a peacock. We will take a look at some of these birds and see how they differ from peacocks.

We will also explore why these birds might resemble peacocks and what makes them unique in their own right.

Examples of Birds that Look Like Peacocks

1. Black Shouldered Peafowl

The black-shouldered peafowl is a subspecies of the Indian peafowl and is found in parts of India and Sri Lanka. These birds are similar in size to the common peacock but have different colored feathers.

The male black-shouldered peafowl has a blue body with black feathers on its shoulders and wings. The tail feathers are a mixture of blue and green with black tips. The female black-shouldered peafowl is similar in color to the male but has brown feathers instead of black on its shoulders and wings.

The Black shouldered peafowl is sometimes confused with the common peacock because of its similar size and colored tail feathers.

2. Blue Peafowl

This is the most common type of peacock look a like and is what most people think of when they think of a peacock. Blue peafowl are native to Asia and their scientific name is Pavo cristatus. They are the national bird of India and Sri Lanka.

The male blue peafowl is much larger than the female and can reach up to 6 feet in length. The males also have much brighter plumage than the females. The tail feathers of the male can be up to 3 feet long and are brightly colored with blue, green, and gold.

The females are much smaller, only reaching about 2-3 feet in length. Their plumage is not as brightly colored and their tail feathers are only about 2 feet long.

3. Common Kingfisher

The Common Kingfisher is a small bird that is found near water. They have a blue back, and a white chest with orange spots. The kingfisher also has a long bill and a short tail.

While they might not be as colorful as peacocks, they do have some similar features. They are both birds that are found near water and have brightly colored feathers.

However, the kingfisher is a much smaller bird than the peacock and does not have the long tail feathers that peacocks are known for.

4. Congo Peafowl

The Congo peafowl is a close relative of the blue peafowl and is found in the forests of central Africa. They are slightly smaller than the blue peacock and have greenish-black plumage with blue-green neck feathers. The tail feathers are shorter than those of the blue peacock and lack the eye spots.

5. Crested Caracara

The Crested Caracara is a large bird of prey that can be found in parts of North and South America. They are often mistaken for peacocks because of their long tail feathers and their crest of feathers on their head.

However, there are some key differences between the two birds. The Crested Caracara is mostly brown in color with a white chest and black wingtips. They also have a yellow beak and legs.

In comparison, peacocks are much more brightly colored. They have blue or green feathers with black markings. Their tail feathers can be up to three feet long and are often brightly colored as well.

6. Golden Pheasant

The golden pheasant is a bird that is native to China and is often kept as a pet or in zoos. They are easily recognized by their bright red and yellow feathers. While they do not have the long tail feathers of a peacock, they are similar in size and build.

7. Great Crested Grebe

The great crested grebe is a waterbird that can be found in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. They are often mistaken for peacocks because of their long tail feathers that they use to display during breeding season.

Great crested grebes have black and white plumage, whereas peacocks are brightly colored.

Great crested grebes also have a much shorter body than peacocks and their tail feathers make up less than half of their overall body length.

8. Greater Bird-Of-Paradise

Greater Bird-Of-Paradise: The Greater Bird-Of-Paradise is a member of the Paradisaeidae family which also includes the well-known peacock. These birds are found in tropical forests of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

The males of this species are known for their stunning plumage which includes long tail feathers that they can raise and lower at will.

9. Impeyan Pheasant

The Impeyan pheasant is a large bird that is found in the Himalayan region of Asia. It is the national bird of Nepal and is also known as the danphe. The male impeyan pheasant has blue-green feathers on its body with a black tail. The female impeyan pheasant is brown with some white markings.

The impeyan pheasant is often mistaken for a peacock because of its long tail feathers. The main difference between the two birds is that the impeyan pheasant has a crest on its head, while the peacock does not.

10. Lady Amherst’s Pheasant

The Lady Amherst’s Pheasant is a bird that is native to China and is often mistaken for a peacock. This bird has very long tail feathers that can reach up to 3 feet in length.

The male of the species is much more brightly colored than the female and has a black body with white markings. The tail feathers are a bright red color with yellow tips. The Lady Amherst’s Pheasant is a bit larger than a peacock and can weigh up to 6 pounds.

11. Long-Tailed Paradise Whydah

The Long-tailed Paradise Whydah is a small bird that is found in Africa. It is about the same size as a peacock and has very long tail feathers. The male of the species has black feathers with white tips and the female has brown feathers.

12. Long-Tailed Widowbirds

The long-tailed widowbird is a species of bird that is found in Africa. These birds are related to the true peacocks and they share many similarities with them. The most notable similarity is their long tail feathers.

These feathers can make up nearly 60% of the total body length of the bird and are used for courtship displays. The widowbirds are also polygynous, meaning that the males will mate with multiple females.

The long-tailed widowbird gets its name from the black feathers on the tail that are only found in the male of the species. These feathers are believed to resemble a widow’s veil.

13. Marvelous Spatuletail

The Marvelous Spatuletail is a hummingbird found in Peru. It is the only member of the genus Eriocnemis. This bird is often mistaken for a peacock because of its long tail feathers that have blue and green colors. The male also has two long, thin streamers that hang down from the end of its tail.

14. Red Peafowl

The red peafowl is a subspecies of the common peacock. It is native to Sri Lanka and southern India. The red peafowl is slightly smaller than the blue peafowl with a shorter tail.

The males have greenish-black plumage with chestnut brown wings. The tail feathers are brilliantly colored with hues of red, purple, and blue. The females are much duller in coloration with a grayish brown body and tail feathers that lack the intense colors of the males.

15. Red-Billed Streamertail

Found in Jamaica, this bird is also known as the doctor bird or swallow-tailed hummingbird. It is one of the national birds of Jamaica and is the only member of the streamertail family found outside of Madagascar. It is a small hummingbird with a long tail that often exceeds its body length.

16. Resplendent Quetzal

The Resplendent Quetzal is a bird that is found in the mountainous regions of Central America. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world and its long tail feathers can often make it look like a peacock.

The Resplendent Quetzal has a green body with red breast and blue-green tail feathers that can grow up to three feet long. It also has a small head with a long beak.

17. Ribbon-Tailed Astrapia

The Ribbon-tailed astrapia is a bird of paradise that is found in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It is the largest member of the genus Astrapia with males measuring up to 27 inches long and weighing up to 2 pounds. The females are much smaller, measuring only 16 inches in length and weighing less than 1 pound.

18. Spalding Peafowl

The Spalding peafowl is a hybrid between the green peafowl and the blue peafowl. The Spalding is most commonly found in zoos and aviaries. They are not found in the wild.

The Spalding peafowl looks very similar to the peacock, however their plumage is not as blue. The Spalding peafowl also has some green feathers in their plumage. The tail feathers of the Spalding peafowl are also not as long as the blue peafowl.

19. Superb Lyrebird

The Superb Lyrebird is a bird found in Australia that is often mistaken for a peacock. This bird has tail feathers that can grow up to 3 feet long and are brightly colored. The male of the species also has a lyre shaped tail feather that it uses to attract mates.

20. Turquoise-Browed Motmot

The turquoise-browed motmot is a brightly colored bird that is found in Central and South America. These birds are about the same size as a peacock and have long tail feathers. However, their tail feathers are not as long or as showy as those of a peacock.

21. White Peafowl

The White Peafowl is a subspecies of the Indian peafowl and is native to parts of Asia. They are all white with some grey on their wings and have a long tail feathers that can reach up to 3 feet long.

22. Wilson’s Bird-Of-Paradise

The Wilson’s bird-of-paradise is a small bird that is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. This bird is often mistaken for a peacock because of its long tail feathers.

The Wilson’s bird-of-paradise is mostly black with a few blue feathers on its head and back. The male of the species also has two long tail feathers that it uses to attract mates.

Unlike peacocks, Wilson’s birds-of-paradise do not have any vocalizations and they are not social birds. They are also much smaller than peacocks, with a body length of only about 9 inches.

Conclusion

Birds that look like peacocks can be found all over the world. There are many different types of birds that have feathers that resemble those of a peacock. However, there are some key differences between these birds and the true peacock. The most common type of peacock is the blue peafowl, which is found in Asia.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.