- Peacock (Pavo cristatus) displaying before peahen
With a huge fan of colorful tail feathers, the peacock is famous as an ornamental bird. Only the male birds have tail feathers. Strictly, the male is a peacock, and the female is a peahen. Both are peafowl. The birds belong to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. There are three species of peacock—the blue (or Indian), the green (or Javanese), and the Congo. The Congo peacock was discovered in 1936. The search for this species began in 1913 after the finding of a single feather. Where peacocks livePeacocks are found in many of the world's zoos. In the wild they generally live in lowland forests. At night they roost in trees. The blue peacock is found mostly in India and Sri Lanka. The green peacock also is found in Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to Java. The Congo peacock is found in Africa. It is the only large pheasant on the continent. Physical characteristicsIn both the blue and green species, the male's body is about 35–50 inches (90–130 centimeters) long. The train of its tail feathers is about 60 inches (150 centimeters) long. The tail feathers are a brilliant metallic green. Each tail feather is tipped with a shining spot that looks like an eye. A crest of feathers tops the head. The body feathers of the male blue peacock are mostly blue-green. Those of the male green peacock are mostly green and bronze. The peahen of both these species is green and brown. It is almost as big as the male. It lacks a train of tail feathers and a crest on top of the head. The Congo peacock is mainly blue and green, with a short rounded tail. It does not have a train. The peahen is reddish and green, with a brown crest of feathers on its head. ReproductionThe male peacock puts on a showy display as it tries to attract a mate. In the blue and green species, the tail lies under the train. During courtship, the peacock lifts up its tail and spreads it like a fan. The peacock struts about and vibrates its tail feathers. The feathers shimmer and rustle. During the breeding season, the male blue or green peacock forms a group with two to five peahens. Each peahen lays four to eight whitish eggs in a depression in the ground. The Congo peacock takes only one mate. The Congo peahen lays two or three brownish eggs. Peacocks and humansPeacocks have been kept by people since ancient times. To the ancient Greeks the peacock was known as Hera's bird. According to a myth, the eyespots on the bird's tail feathers were originally the hundred eyes of the god Argus. After Argus was killed, Hera transferred his eyes to the peacock's feathers. Peacocks are now raised in almost every country. The blue peacock can survive northern winters even though it is a native of hot, steamy lands. However, the green peacock cannot stand much cold. In captivity the green peacock must be kept apart from other fowl. Otherwise, the peacock may become aggressive. |