Identification of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves: Phasianidae) Using Feather Calamus by Molecular Genetic Method

The ornate and vibrant bird, Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 belongs to Phasianidae family and is proud to be the national bird of India due to it is extravagant feathers and cultural significance. Thus, the accurate identification of this species is significant for its conservation as well as for areas where it is endangered due to factors such as habitat destruction and hunting. This study applies molecular analysis for the identification of the Indian peafowl by analyzing shed feather samples non-invasively through DNA barcoding. Barcoding the species was done by using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. The study is rightly able to establish that DNA obtained from shed feathers can generate DNA barcodes, which help with species identification. This method provides a useful instrument for the wildlife tracking and the conservation of birds by providing an efficient and non-harmful way of identifying and tracking the population of the species. These results show that DNA barcoding could be useful in increasing the efficiency of species identification, differentiation in avian research to the broader field of molecular ecology for the monitoring, conservation and management.