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Colourful Peacock Facts
You might not know this when you visit peacocks in nearby parks, farms, and zoos, but blue and green peacocks, those mythical creatures with iridescent plumage, are only native to Asia — though their remarkable beauty has led them to all corners of the world.
There's a lot more to peafowl than their mesmerizing tail feathers. Explore their intricate nature with these 12 peacock facts.
1. Only Males Have Those Long, Beautiful Feathers
Like other bird species, male peafowls have eye-catching color and lovely decorative tail feathers. And just the males are called peacocks — females are called peahens — though both sexes are commonly referred to as peacocks. A group of peafowl is called a bevy, an ostentation, or a muster.
2. Peacocks Take Three Years to Grow Their Tail Feathers
When they hatch and for months afterward, male and female peachicks look identical. The males don't start to develop colour until they are about three months old, and it's not until full maturity at three years old that their famous display tails are in full feather.
3. The Indian Peacock Is the Country's National Bird
In 1963, the blue or Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) was designated India's national bird. Its range covers nearly the entire Indian subcontinent, where it is a species of Least Concern1 (common and healthy populations throughout its range), according to the IUCN. It has a rich tradition of depiction in Indian art and Hindu religious culture, including being associated with gods and goddesses as well as royalty.
4. Peacock Tail Feathers Are Shed Regularly
Peacocks naturally shed their feathers every year after mating season, when they can be gathered by those who want to keep a collection of the brightly patterned plumage.
5. That Dramatic Plumage Is Designed to Attract Peahens
When a peacock fans out his dramatic tail, it isn't just appealing and enjoyable to our human eyes. Peahens judge the fitness of the males in their vicinity via this visual display, during which subtle rattling by the males creates an illusion of spots hovering over a glimmering background.
Some scientists theorize that the females find the male feathers appealing because they look like blueberries, while others think it's because the colorful display can help protect them from predators.2 Research on peahen behavior has studied what exactly they focus on during courtship, and it seems that the angle of the peacock's tail feathers might be more important than the size of the display.3
There's also evidence that vibrations, dancing (feather-shaking and moving), and vocalizations (peacocks make a distinctive trumpet-like sound) are important in mate choice among peahens.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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