COMMON (INDIAN) PEACOCK
COMMON (INDIAN) PEACOCK
Pavo cristatus
Common, or Indian Blue, peafowl are often referred to as peacocks. “Peacock” actually refers to the males, and “peahen” to the females and the offspring are peachicks.The males, with their spectacular tail feathers, are seen (or at least noticed) more often in captivity than the peahens with their more subtle tan to brown coloration.Typically people tend to refer to them all, regardless of gender, as peacocks, even though the collective name is actually “peafowl”.
The Common peafowl is native to forests of India and Sri Lanka. They have been introduced worldwide as a captive bird, but may live wild or semi-wild in some introduced areas.
Peafowl will eat nearly anything, but mainly feed on seeds, fruit, insects, worms and occasionally snakes and mice.
The male peafowl (peacock) has a long “train” of green and bronze feathers adorned with blue-green spots that look like eyes. An average peacock train contains more than 200 feathers. The train, when fanned out in a courtship display, is supported by 20 shorter tail feathers.
Peacock chicks, and even young hens, often try spreading their tail feathers in imitation of the male’s train.
The main function of the peacock’s train is for courtship displays. However, the train often provides a defense mechanism, as well; inexperienced predators attempting to catch a peacock “sometimes pounce on the long train rather than the bird’s body”.
The export of peacock train feathers from India is now illegal.
Predators of the common peafowl in their native range include tigers and leopards.
Peafowl are the national bird of India.
Peafowl have a “screaming alarm cry” that in the wild warns other animals, such as deer of the presence of a predator such as a leopard or tiger.
The peafowl has been used as an ornamental bird worldwide because of its beauty, adaptability, and
hardiness.The feathers of the peacock’s train are often sold in India for temple decorations or for making fans.
Comments
Post a Comment