**Editor's Note: Video showcases animals native to New Mexico. Peafowl are not native to the state. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – If you've been to the ABQ BioPark Zoo, there is a good chance you may have encountered the resident peafowl, commonly known as peacocks, that roam around the grounds. While the colorful pheasants are owned by the zoo, there are at least two other groups of peacocks in the city that have been spotted roaming the streets. So, how did these birds, which are native to the Indian subcontinent, end up in Albuquerque neighborhoods? The answer is not so clear. Story continues below Podcast: What Will Voters Do With $1.5 Million? Entertainment: These movies were filmed in Las Cruces. Have you seen them? Crime: ABQ man charged federally for arson attacks at Tesla, Republican Party headquarters Weird: Peacocks spotted in Albuquerque neighborhoods. Where did they come from? "Now for years, in some places, like in the North Valley, we've had a small flock of upwards of 30 or so peacocks that are running around and are equally loved and, I think, equally less loved by people in the neighborhood. There's certainly mixed feelings," said Nick Pederson, Urban Biology Division manager with the city's Environmental Health Department.  Pederson has been with the city since 2007 and first learned about peacocks during his first few years of employment. "And we had always heard, you know, some people were saying they were actually owned, they belong to someone, and follow-up in that case didn't actually show that to be the case. So they were already, kind of, semi-wild. I don't even know if they meet the feral definition because they're definitely supported by people," said Pederson. The North Valley location Pederson referred to is the Los Griegos neighborhood, located a little over three miles north of Downtown. On one of the streets there, KRQE found five peacocks roaming around in the front yards of two homes on April 8. Peacock in the North Valley on April 8, 2025. (KRQE)Peacocks outside a home in the Los Griegos neighborhood in the North Valley. April 8, 2025. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)Peacock in the North Valley on April 8, 2025. (KRQE) One of the homeowners told KRQE that she doesn't mind the birds and often provides water for them. During the day, the birds roam on the ground, and at night, they roost in the trees, she explained. "We have these, sort of, free-roaming, semi-feral populations that presumably started as a domestic flock that someone was keeping. And they either escaped, or they were intentionally released or something like that," Pederson said. That claim was also backed up by the homeowner, who believes the peacocks came from a neighbor who brought them to their home some years back. This is not the only flock the city has been keeping an eye on. Pederson said the city recently has received calls about peafowl in the Taylor Ranch area on the West Side. Multiple social media posts have also popped up online in the past month from residents who have spotted peacocks in the area. KRQE went in search of that group and found peacocks outside a home in the Taylor Ranch area. The group of four pheasants was sitting behind a chain-link fence in the backyard of a home, visible from the street. It is unclear if the peacocks belong to someone or if they were the same ones that residents spotted and posted about on social media. Peacocks in Taylor Ranch on April 8, 2025. (KRQE) If you do happen to come in contact with peacocks, whether in the city or at the BioPark, as a good rule of thumb, officials say to keep your distance. "Our peafowl aren't very aggressive or anything like that," said Laura Siffring, zookeeper at ABQ BioPark. "But, especially if it's a bird you don't know, you shouldn't approach it. You never know how they'll act. And it's just respectful to give them their space." ‘The wildlife belongs to all of us here’: A look into New Mexico’s wildlife law violation checkpoints The ABQ BioPark Zoo currently has 17 peafowl on the property that are allowed to roam freely. The birds are tagged so they can be identified and taken care of by staff at the zoo. "They are pretty low maintenance in the sense that we don't have to do a lot to provide for them. We do give them food and have places where they can access shelter, but they get a lot of their own food. They eat insects off the ground, they forage, and it's pretty cool." Peacock at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. April 14, 2025. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) From the spring to fall, the birds mate and may be heard making a loud calling noise. While this could be a nuisance to some people, the city does not attempt to capture feral birds. "But in terms of the semi-domestic wild flocks that we see, there's no real control attempts. We more focus on providing people with deterrent information on how to, kind of, protect themselves or property from some of the impacts with these birds," Pederson explained. Deterrent information for peacock/peafowl can be found on the City of Albuquerque's website by clicking here and in the screengrab below: If you come across an injured peacock in Albuquerque, Pederson said to call the city's non-emergency number at 3-1-1. ...read more read less