With its massive tail and iridescent colors, this bird has long fascinated its human observers—and we’re still learning its secrets. For example, a study recently published in The British Journal of Animal Behaviour says that when a peacock fans its ornamented train for the ladies during mating season, its feathers quiver, emitting a low-frequency sound inaudible to human ears. We are a fortunate country to have the peacock as our national bird. The beauty of a peacock is unparalleled, and many merely dream to see a peacock dance when it attempts to welcome the rains.
Most people use the term "peacock" to describe both male and female birds, but Peacock is actually a name that refers to male peafowl.
The peacock, also widely popular as peafowl, is a medium-sized, colorful bird belonging to the pheasant family. The bird is native to Asia.
The peacock is the national bird of India.
About 3000 years ago, Phoenicians imported different species of peacocks to Egypt and used them for a variety of purposes, particularly decorations.
You can find three prominent species of a peacock, namely the Indian peacock, the African Congo peacock, and the Green peacock. All three species are native to Asia, but you can also find them in Africa and certain parts of Australia today.
Unlike ducks and other birds, peacocks cannot enter the waters and swim. Their feet are meant to hold on to the land firmly and do not have the presence of webbed skin between their toes, which facilitates other water birds to swim around. Their feathers too are of no use in the water.
Generally known for their colorful plumage, few peacocks are manually chosen to breed selectively, giving rise to female peacocks that have feathers without any colors. These are called white peacocks.
A gene mutation causes peacocks to lose their pigmentation which turns them into while peafowls.
Interestingly, peacocks take on a fresh feather set each year after the old one is discarded. A male peacock can live for 20 years.
These large birds with massive tails, when in flight, look like a passing rainbow. But they cannot fly very long distances.