This peacock facts article was created to provide a place where one can learn all there is about the animals and we hope the information displayed here will bring you value. The list below is extensive, but like everything in life, if we are missing something, please contact us to correct it.
Have you ever wondered what mystical facts are related to the beautiful and fascinating birds, peacocks? The native Asian birds, famous for their beauty and iridescent plumage, are known across the world.
But there is more to peacocks than just their vibrant feathers and breathtaking appearance. Explore more fun facts about these Asian birds here:
33 Peacock Facts for Parents, Teachers and Kids
1. The name peacock is not for both male and female birds. The male are called peacocks, while the females are called peahens. Collectively, these birds are known as “peafowl.”
2. A baby peafowl is known as a peachick, and they are called so till the age of one.
3. Peafowl is an Asian bird, and it has only two species. However, a third one is found, which belongs to Africa.
4. The green and blue peafowls are of Asian origin, from which the blue variant is of Indian descent. The green ones, on the other hand, are from Myanmar (Burma) and Java. The African peafowl is called the Congo peafowl as they originated from the Congo Basin.
5. The Congo peafowls have a shorter tail, and they are smaller in size. The majority of their feathers are also shredded during mating rituals.
6. Peacocks’ natural habitats are forests and rainforests. In the wilderness, peacocks and peahens’ life span goes up to twenty years. In contrast to that, domesticated peafowls can live up to 50 years.
7. Peafowls, by nature, are not very violent unless they are threatened or attacked. If threatened, these can turn very dangerous and attack both humans and animals.
8. The visible difference between peacocks and peahens is in their size. The females are smaller in size compared to male ones. Peacocks grow twice the size of peahens.
9. Also, only peacocks have long, beautiful feathers. The intricate details and beautiful patterns in the long tail feathers are only seen in the male peafowls.
10. Peacocks are not born with their vibrant long feathers. Until three months old, both male and female peafowls look identical, and only afterward do the peacocks start growing their feathers. Also, only when the peacocks are three years old, are their long tails in feathers.
11. The famous long tail of peacocks is popularly called the train.
12. The bare patch of skin around peafowls’ eyes is a striking feature of this bird.
13. Both peacocks and peahens have crests at the top of their heads. The color and design, however, can vary depending on the sex and species.
14. The crests are not only for their aesthetic appearance. They work as sensors and play an important role in mating. Scientists have revealed that when a peacock rattle its tail twenty-five times per second, it indicates a sign to attract peahens. The peahens feel the indication via the crests in their head.
15. The mesmerizing plumage on the peacocks’ tails is not simply a physical feature; they are for attracting the peahens. Peahens judge their males based on the visual display of their long beautiful tails. Hence, whenever a peacock flaunts its majestic tail, it’s not for appealing human eyes but to attract its female counterparts. Also, the peacocks seem to display their long attractive tail mostly during the breeding season in spring.
16. During the breeding season, apart from displaying their colorful tails, males make a loud noise to ward off other peacocks from their peahen.
17. Peafowls are a highly sociable bird species, and they always prefer living in groups. A group of peacocks is known as a harem, and a group of peahens is known as a muster or a bevy.
18. The Asian and Indian peafowl species are not considered endangered species, but the African species are considered vulnerable.
19. Peahens generally lay six eggs at a time and mostly in the afternoon. The number may vary in certain cases and might go up.
20. Peafowls’ diet comprises a variety of insects, reptiles, plants, and amphibians.
21. Peacocks don’t only keep one female partner. There are a minimum of two female partners, and the number can go up to five as well.
22. Peafowls are one of the largest flying birds on earth, with their wingspan of 1.5 meters or 4.9 feet. Peacock’s tails cover almost 60% of their body’s length.
23. Peopl The male peacocks replenish their feathers every year. Maybe this is the reason their feathers always remain bright and beautiful.
24. Peacock’s feathers have microscopic structures on their tales that appear like crystals. These crystal-like structures give the iridescent appearance on peacocks’ tails.
25. Peacock is the national bird of India. In 1963, the blue peacock of Indian origin was designated as its national bird.
26. Peacock also has a rich history in Indian mythology, culture, and religion.
27. The gray peacock is the national symbol of Burma.
28. Peafowl’s feet have four toes. Three of them point forward while the fourth one points backward. This unique toe arrangement is helpful for these birds when they are trying to grab roots and branches of trees.
29. Another interesting fact about this bird is that it can make eleven different sounds. They are also one of the loudest birds on the planet, and during the monsoon, their meowing calls indicate the onset of rain.
30. Peahens are also a very clever species of birds. They lay unfertilized eggs as decoys far away from their actual nest to drive away predators.
31. In Feng Shui, peacocks’ feathers are considered as protective symbols from threats and disasters.
32. Although the blue peafowls are of a warmer and humid origin, they can survive the northern winters. But the green variants cannot survive such extreme cold.
33. The white peafowls get that shade because of leucism, a condition where the feather and skin pigments get dimmed. They are born with yellow pigments, and as they grow old, their entire body gets white from head to tail.
These are some of the interesting facts about peafowls. Did you find them interesting? Let us know in the comments!
Conclusion
These are some interesting facts about emeralds that will surely add to your knowledge about the precious gemstone. Emeralds are a symbol of royalty, and from ancient times, kings and royal families have been keeping them as a sign of honor.
Did you like these facts about emeralds? If yes, let us know about them in the comment section and if you have anything more to add to the knowledge, make sure to leave that in the comment section too.