Everything about Peafowl totally explained
The term
peafowl can refer to the two
species of
bird in the
genus Pavo of the
pheasant family,
Phasianidae. The
African
Congo Peafowl is placed in its own genus
Afropavo and isn't dealt with here. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant
tail, which it displays as part of
courtship. The male is called a
peacock, the female a
peahen, though it's common to hear the female also referred to as a "peacock" or "female peacock". The female peafowl is brown or toned grey and brown.
The two species are:
The
Indian Peafowl is a resident breeder in the
Indian subcontinent. The peacock is designated as the national bird of
India.
The
Green Peafowl breeds from
Burma east to
Java. The
IUCN lists the Green Peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat.
Taxonomy
The Indian Peafowl is
monotypic, while the Green Peafowl has 3 subspecies,
P. muticus spicifer,
P. m. imperator and the nominate
P. m. muticus.
The two species are largely
allopatric but will hybridise in captivity.
While the form of Green Peafowl in Yunnan isn't separated taxonomically, it differs in a few aspects from other forms, particularly in its forest-dwelling habits, an "odd, monal-like bill", a curiously long hind toe and longer, more slender wings (K. B. Woods in litt. 2000) . Some have suggested this is a new subspecies.
Some pheasant breeders have suggested that the Green Peafowl may have more subspecies.
Peafowl have sometimes been included in a distinct family from Pheasants .
Plumage
The male (peacock) Indian Peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green coloured plumage. The so-called "tail" of the peacock, also termed the "train", isn't the tail quill feathers but highly elongated upper tail
coverts. The train feathers have a series of eyes that are best seen when the tail is fanned. Both species have a crest atop the head.
The female (peahen) Indian Peafowl has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. She lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male but has a crest. Females can also display their plumage to ward off danger to their young or other female competition.
The Green Peafowl is very different in appearance to the Indian Peafowl. The male has green and gold plumage and has an erect crest. The wings are black with a sheen of blue.
Unlike the Indian Peafowl, the Green Peahen is very similar to the male, only having shorter upper tail coverts and less iridesence. It is very hard to tell a juvenile male from an adult female.
Many of the brilliant colours of the peacock plumage are due to an optical
interference phenomenon (
Bragg reflection) based on (nearly) periodic nanostructures found in the
barbules (fiber-like components) of the feathers.
Different colours correspond to different length scales of the periodic structures. For brown feathers, a mixture of red and blue is required: one color is created by the periodic structure, and the other is a created by a
Fabry-Perot interference peak from reflections off the outermost and innermost boundaries of the periodic structure.
Such interference-based
structural color is especially important in producing the peacock's iridescent hues (which shimmer and change with viewing angle), since interference effects depend upon the angle of light, unlike chemical pigments.
Behaviour
The peafowl are forest birds that nest on the ground. The
Pavo peafowl are terrestrial feeders but roost in trees.
Both species of Peafowl are believed to be
polygamous. However, it has been suggested that "females" entering a male Green Peafowl's territory are really his own juvenile or subadult young (K. B. Woods in litt. 2000) and that Green Peafowl are really monogamous in the wild. The male peacock flares out its feathers when it's trying to get the females attention. Those who subscribe to this notion cite the similarities between the sexes.
During mating season that'll often emit a very loud high pitched cry.
Diet
Peafowl are omnivorous and eat plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians.
In common with other members of the
Galliformes, males possess metatarsal spurs or "thorns" used primarily during
intraspecific fights.
Habitat
Asiatic peafowl like the Indian Blue Peafowl and especially the Green Peafowl occupy a similar niche as the
roadrunner,
secretary bird, and
seriema. All of these birds hunt for small animals including
arthropods on the ground and tall grass and
minnows in shallow streams.
Because of human encroachment into their natural territories, peafowl and humans have come into increasing contact. Because of their natural beauty some are reluctant to classify the birds as pests but their presence can be disturbing.
Peafowl as national symbols
The Peacock has been used by many nations as a national symbol.
The Peacock is the national bird of India.
Though the national bird of Burma is the Grey Peacock-pheasant, the Peacock is still a prominent symbol of Burma. The Dancing Peacock (the Peacock in courtship or in display of his feathers) was numerously featured in Burma monarchic flags as well as other nationalist symbols in the country such as coins, medals and emblems. Early 20th century Burma banknotes also featured Peacocks. The Fighting Peacock, as symbolic representation, is also associated with decades long democratic struggle against military dictatorship in the country. The latter closely resembles a Green Peafowl, as it has a tufted crest.
Gallery
Indian Peafowl
Image:PeacockHead.jpg|An Indian Blue Peacock's head
Image:Peacock_00782.jpg|Shot of a white peacock
Image:peacock_courting_peahen.jpg|An Indian Blue Peacock courts a peahen
Image:Peahen on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.jpg|An Indian Blue Peahen showing her plumage
Image:040411.JPG|Closeup of an Indian Blue Peacock's head
Image:Peacock DSC04082.jpg|When it isn't in display, the long train rests on the ground and hampers the movements of the peacock
Image:Dscn08507wr.jpg|The Black-Shouldered Peacock was once thought to be a distinct subspecies, but is now considered a color mutation
Image:White_peacock.jpg|A white peacock showing off his plumage
Image:Male Indian Blue Peacock head.jpg|The head of a male Indian Blue Peacock
Image:178279581_2b22d77351.jpg|Male Indian Blue Peacock at Grounds For Sculpture in Trenton, NJ
Image:Bottom of plate CXLII from 1st Encyclopaedia Britannica.jpg|Indian Blue Peacocks as illustrated in the First Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Image:Charles d'Orbigney00.jpg|by Charles d'Orbigney (1806–1876)
Image:Peacock-rtisbute-steven-viemeister-1.jpg| A white peacock domesticated in Mexico.
Image:White_peacock.JPG | White peacock shot in Sydney, Australia
Green Peafowl
Image:Pavo muticus1.jpg|Male
Image:Pavo muticus2.jpg|Female
Image:Pavo muticus3.jpg|Close-up of a female's head
Image:Stavenn Pavo muticus 01.jpg
Image:Frankyboy Pavo muticus.JPG|Pavo muticus muticus
Further Information
Get more info on 'Peafowl'.
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