Are Peacocks and Peacock Eggs Kosher?

Unlike mammals, the Torah does not specify signs to differentiate between kosher and non-kosher birds. The Torah (Deuteronomy 14:11-21) lists twenty-four types of forbidden fowl (eg. owl). All other fowl are assumed to be kosher (eg. chicken).

The sages of the Mishnah however, do provide four signs to identify non-kosher fowl (Chullin 3:6). Since we lack the experience to apply these rules, for all intents and purposes we are permitted to eat only those birds that we have a tradition regarding their being kosher (Ramo YD 82:3).

Since we do not have a definitive tradition about the status of peacocks (peahens) - their status is in doubt, and they should not be eaten. The same goes for other birds whose status is in doubt. The eggs of any non-kosher fowl are also forbidden to be eaten.

By Vidal Bekerman

Rabbi Vidal Bekerman and his wife Chanah Leah are Co-Directors of the Chabad Center at their alma mater—York University in Toronto, Ontario.

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18 Comments

Sholom Jerusalem September 26, 2023

There is most years a feast of kosher curiosities held at the biblical museum with rabbanim of high regard supervising and giving their seal. There are foods from animals like buffalo locusts and some other weird and wonderful kosher animals. Reply

Tomer Altoona, Wisconsin October 2, 2022

Synthesizing the original article, the comments, and other sources, we have reliable records going back to the time of Tanakh until as recently as 19th century Italy, indicating that the peafowl (of which modern science identifies two species differentiable geographically,by the color of their feathers and somewhat by their body size), shechted properly, is indeed kosher, regardless of whether any modern organization will provide such a bird with a hekhsher, for whatever reason, including the lack of demand for it.
ou kosher (dot) org has an article regarding this, entitled "A Peafowl by any other Name". I'd post a link, but they're not permitted in the comments (for good reason) Reply

Seth Ark Encounter February 8, 2017

Peafowls All fowls (quails, chickens, turkeys, peafowls, etc.) are related. They all descend from a common fowl created by God on the 5th day of creation. Their diversity today is because they had seven pairs on the Ark, allowing for greater diversity after the Flood. Reply

Molly November 10, 2021

in response to Seth:

But after the flood, Noah used the extras of all the kosher animals to use as sacrifices. It very much pleased HaShem. So this probably affects your point, a bit. Reply

Mrs. Chana Benjaminson January 6, 2016

To Jonathan Be that as it may, with regards to birds and fowl we follow the guidelines outlined by the Torah as mentioned by Rabbi Bekerman above and in the notes. Reply

Jonathan Fritz United States December 26, 2015

From Encyclopaedia Brittanica Thank you, Chani Benjaminson, for your recent reply to my post concerning the kosher validity of peacocks. Allow me, if you may, to present information from Encyclopaedia Brittanica concerning this most-colorful and well-known bird: According to Brittanica, peacocks are members of the pheasant family (and if I'm not mistaken, pheasants are indeed kosher) and the families *Galliforms* (chicken-like) and *Phasianidae* (this family includes partridge, peacock, pheasant, and quail. Some experts also include turkeys in this family as well). Peacocks (peafowls) are vegetarian in nature, as are nearly all of the birds mentioned earlier. From the information and details given from Brittanica, I would immediately deduce that peafowl are most certainly kosher. Again, thank you for your assistance. Reply

Kim FL October 24, 2014

Are pheasants kosher? Reply

Feivel Sommer March 23, 2014

Heter; Arugas HaBosem The Arugas HaBosem rendered the halachic decision that if a bird has the signs of kashrus, and Jews live near them for more than 12 months without witnessing them eating like a bird of prey, then it constitutes a tradition of kashrus and may be eaten. This was accepted as the halachah by the late Achronim. Reply

Yehuda Shurpin for Chabad.org August 5, 2013

Re: mesorah-man You are correct that there have been some Jewish communities that seem to have eaten peacock in the past (for example, the peacock was one of 30 birds pictured in a 150-year-old Italian book on kosher poultry), However, in halachik literature there are apparently two species that were called peacock (or to be more accurate, their equivalent), furthermore, there isn't anyone alive today who can actually testify about a tradition about the peacock, in light of all this, no kashrus organization will certify peacock as kosher. Reply

mesorah-man Italy August 5, 2013

Actually, we do have traditions that the jews in italy as recently as 150 years ago were definitely consuming peacock. Reply

Judith B Atlanta, GA August 21, 2011

Turkeys! Modern, farm-raised birds tend to be almost flightless because breeding has so greatly increased the proportion of meat to bone. Wild turkeys, much leaner birds, have no problem flying. Peacocks and peahens also are able to fly, and they are definitely old world! Reply

sholom shemu'el hakohein ben hatzadik rebbe nachman July 7, 2009

turkey Come on turkey brain (just kidding), chicken and turkey are in the same order (Galliformes). All Jews eat it and it is not a bird of prey so let the poor bird be. Reply

daniel July 6, 2009

turkey Turkeys look and act much closer to peacocks than they do to chickens, so why are they kosher? Reply

Judy Herzlia, Israel August 16, 2008

Kosher Birds I was taught that birds of prey, like eagles and vultures, for example, are not kosher, not that anyone has even offered me a vulture pulkah! Reply

Hanna Sydney, Australia August 10, 2008

turkey I went to seminary with a girl who didn't eat turkey. She said it was because she was a descendent of a certain great Rabbi - I don't remember exactly who, maybe the Alshich or the Shiloh hakodesh, who once saw a turkey ripping another bird apart. He therefore stopped eating turkey and this tradition has been carried on by his descendants. Reply

Erich Helfrich Round Rock, TX August 8, 2008

Emu aren't emu unkosher on the basis that they are flightless? well, chickens and turkeys are sort of flightless, too, but not like emu and ostriches are. and Moshe, I know you! See you on monday after Tanya class! Reply

Moshe Kass Austin, TX August 8, 2008

So how do we eat Turkey? I've heard there are some people who don't but I've never actually met anyone who holds that way. Reply

M. Pinsker Glen Allen, Va. August 8, 2008

turkey By your explanation turkey and emu should both be forbidden. As new world birds there was no tradition of their being OK. Reply

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