The Peacock, which is also known as
the Indian peafowl, has been part of the livestock of parks and gardens
around the world for a long time. Peafowl, Pavo cristatus particularly the
males, are one of the most colorful and strikingly marked of all birds. The
Indian Peafowl is native to India. In the wild, these peafowl usually live
in small family groups, preferring dense, hilly jungle near water. The
Indian Peacock is probably the oldest known ornamental bird. It is a
colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white
patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. Peacock is the National Bird
of India.
Description: The Colorful Feathers
One of the best known features of these birds is the fan or "train"
of the peacock, which is opened and displayed by the male to attract the
peahen. These feathers are actually long extensions of the upper tail
covers. They are supported from underneath by the much shorter tail
feathers. These feathers grow to be several feet long, but are shed each
year just after the breeding season. Each of these long feathers also has a
design near its tip which resembles an eye.The feathers of the peacock are
composed of many colors, including Crescent sheens of bright blue and green.
The peahen lacks these long, showy tall feathers and although colorful, is
not nearly as brilliant as the male. Both sexes also have a crest of short,
erect feathers along the crown of their heads.
