Mystery Camden peacock continues four-day journey from Belsize Park to Finchley Road

The peacock on Haverstock Hill, in Belsize Park, on Friday. Archant

Members of the public have been left baffled by the sight of a wandering peacock which has been roaming through Camden for four days.

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The peacock perched on a garden fence in Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead. The peacock perched on a garden fence in Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead.

The striking bird was first spotted near Belsize Park Tube station on Friday afternoon and has since travelled more than a mile by foot, hopping through gardens and captivating residents along the way.

It was spotted most recently this morning while perched on a wall close to Finchley Road and Frognal station.

The origin of the bird, described as the size of a small dog, remains a mystery.

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation, which runs Hampstead Heath, said the peacock has not come from any part of the Heath. He said the corporation has kept no peacocks on the land for more than a decade.

The peacock spotted perched on a wall near Finchley Road and Frognal station this morning. Picture: Twitter/@weizmannuk The peacock spotted perched on a wall near Finchley Road and Frognal station this morning. Picture: Twitter/@weizmannuk

London Zoo, in Regent’s Park, is yet to confirm whether any of its peacocks are missing, although a wild peacock is known to frequent Regent’s Park.

The mystery peacock was first spotted around 4pm on Friday travelling towards Howitt Road in Belsize Park.

Police were called by members of the public concerned for the welfare of the animal and officers attended the scene to keep an eye on the bird before alerting the RSPCA.

An RSPCA inspector arrived on the scene but left when it became apparent that the peacock was uninjured.

According to a RSCPA spokesman, peacocks are treated the same as any other bird living freely in the wild, like pigeons, ducks and sparrows. The organisation will usually only make a collection or rescues in cases where injury or a welfare issue is evident.

She said: “An RSPCA inspector was called to assist the police to confine a peacock in the Belsize Park area of London on June 12.

“The bird was uninjured and was flying from garden to garden when approached. If anyone spots the bird and is concerned for its welfare they can ring our emergency line on 0300 123 4999.”

The spokesman added: “Peacocks are native to India, so to see them out and about means they have escaped or been set free, usually from a private collection. To release a non native species in this country is illegal.”