Peacocks are wonderful birds (even if they are obviously non native), but I've only ever seen them in reserves. Do they actually live in the wild at all in the UK?

I've always assumed that they don't but a friend is convinced they do! I would be quite shocked (in a good way) to be out for a walk in the local woodland and see a peacock, but I can't see it every happening!

Peafowl live wild in a wood not too far from me, Nocton Wood near Nocton in central Lincolnshire, around 7 miles south-east of Lincoln. Nocton Wood is a private wood so you can't go in to see them but you can sometimes see them from a public footpath that runs alongside the wood and you can almost always hear them if you are anywhere near the wood. Nocton Wood at this time of year is always carpeted in Bluebells, but I haven't been able to get over to see them this year.

I haven't seen any in the wild either, they are mainly found in private land I think, although I could be wrong. I do remember a friend saying they had one in their garden once (which backed onto a large area of woodland).

Just my opinion, but I suspect that any peafowl running around loose would be rounded up rather quickly! The cry the peacock makes apparently sounds so similar to a human scream that they tend to alarm the local people.

I don't know what effect they would have on local wildlife. I've never heard of any studies being made, even here in the US.

Kingfisher

There's about 15-20 Peacocks in the wood behind where I live. I think many years ago they were probably owned but now are completely wild. They look very nice but the row early mornings is something else, this also goes on all night sometimes.

I can imagine the noise must be deafening! It's bad enough hearing one, let alone 15. That's interesting that they are completely wild too.

Wow, peacocks in woods sounds great! A shame they are private though, I would love to be able to go into a woodland and have the chance of seeing one.