Peacock

Scientific Name

Pavo cristatus

Life Span

15 Years

Peacocks are dazzling birds known for their colorful, shimmering tail feathers. Male peacocks spread their tails in a fan-like display to attract peahens, the females. They have loud, unique calls and love to strut proudly. Peacocks are found in forests and gardens, adding beauty and charm wherever they go!

Peacock Facts
Scroll right to learn some interesting facts about our Peacock!
Not just blue
While the Indian peacock is blue, there are white peacocks and green peacocks, too! White peacocks are not albino—they have a special genetic trait that makes them entirely white.
Peafowl Family
Only the males are called peacocks. Females are called peahens, and together they are known as peafowl. Peahens are smaller and have more muted colors for camouflage.
Loud Calls
Peacocks have a loud and distinctive call that can be heard up to a mile away. They use these calls to communicate and warn of danger.
Feather Shedding
Peacocks shed their spectacular tail feathers every year after the breeding season. The feathers grow back even more vibrant for the next season.
Symbol of Royalty and Luck
Peacocks have been symbols of royalty, beauty, and good luck in many cultures. In India, the peacock is the national bird and is often associated with grace and pride in mythology and art!

Male peacocks are famous for their long, colorful tail feathers, called a train. These feathers have eye-like patterns that shimmer in shades of blue, green, and gold to attract females.

The birds belong to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. There are three species, or kinds, of peacock—the blue (or Indian), the green (or Javanese), and the Congo.

The blue peacock comes from southern Asia (mostly in India and Sri Lanka), while the green peacock comes from southeastern Asia (from Myanmar to Java). The Congo peacock is found in central Africa. It is the only large pheasant on the continent.

Peacocks generally live in lowland forests. At night they sleep in trees.

Male blue and green peacocks put on a showy display when trying to attract mates. In the blue and green species, the peacock lifts its train and spreads it like a fan. It then struts about and shakes its train, making 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.

Peacocks 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.

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