The national symbol of India, the sacred bird in Hinduism, the sacred bird of Zeus's wife Hera in ancient Greek mythology, the heraldic symbol, the most beautiful bird in the world, the royal or bird of paradise, the hero of myths and paintings ... It's all about the peacock. Usually, knowledge about him is limited to the fact that he has a beautiful tail. While this bird deserves a closer look.
The beautiful peacock tail is not the only advantage of this bird.
The common peacock, or the Indian peacock, is the largest representative of the pheasant order of the chicken-like family. The weight of an adult individual reaches 4-5 kg, the body length of the male is 125 cm, the length of the tail is 50 cm, the length of the uppertail feathers is up to 160 cm, the width of the uppertail feathers in the unfolded state reaches 3 meters. Females are slightly smaller: the body length does not exceed 1 meter, the tail length is not more than 40 cm. The uppertail is devoid of feathers. Contrary to the existing misconception, the peacock spreads with a luxurious fan precisely the feathers of the upper tail, and not the tail itself.
Bird of paradise appearance
What a peacock looks like, every student knows. Almost all representatives of this family of chickens have a crest on their heads that resembles a crown. The common peacock has a pronounced blue color in its plumage: the chest, neck and head are purple-blue, the back is green with a metallic or gold sheen, brown spots, the edge of the feathers is black, the tail is brown, the upper tail feathers are green with round spots ("eyes") and a black dot in the middle. Legs are grayish blue, pink beak. The pava is colored brownish-earthy in the upper part of the body, the upper back, lower neck and chest are green, the sides of the head and throat are white, there is a stripe near the eyes.
The characteristic lush tail of feathers with complex patterns is the main distinguishing feature of the male peacock.
The difference in coloration between males and females becomes noticeable by the age of three, with the onset of puberty.
The Indian peacock is the most famous and recognizable of its fellows. Although all members of this family look unforgettable.
How do birds of paradise live?
Peacocks do not fly long distances. They use their wings to hide from sudden danger or fly up a tree for a sleepover. But they are often forced to flee from predators and be able to deftly maneuver in dense grass and bushes, without slowing down. Therefore, they have well-developed legs, long and strong, adapted for running long distances and digging up hard soil. Peacocks can boast of excellent health - only a strong and resilient organism can survive in difficult conditions.
The homeland of the blue peacock is Sri Lanka, India, Asian countries. Here they settle in wooded areas, in thickets of bushes and thick grass and not far from a water source.
The birds of paradise are herbivorous creatures. Their diet is based on young shoots, grass, berries, leaves, roots, grain; but they are not averse to feasting on small insects, invertebrates and small snakes. Under natural conditions, peacocks often settle near agricultural land and feed on grains from the fields, causing significant damage to the crop. However, the locals, who revere the peacock as a sacred bird, are happy with this neighborhood and are grateful for the extermination of pests.
Wild peacocks live in the woodlands of India and Sri Lanka
Peacocks live in families: 1 male and 3-5 females. They nest right on the ground in dense grass.
The lifespan of a wild peacock is 20 years; in captivity, the bird can live up to 25 years.
The main enemies of the royal bird in the wild are leopards, predator birds and man. Since the middle of the 20th century, the peacock has been listed in the international Red Book, as it was on the verge of extinction due to the beautiful feathers that people used as jewelry.
During the mating season, the male performs a beautiful dance in front of the female, demonstrating gorgeous plumage. He dances until the female pays attention to him. Then he folds his tail and turns away from the chosen one for a few minutes. He does this so that she can carefully examine the state of his plumage and draw a conclusion about his strength and health. If the pava considers the male fit for procreation, she gives him a sign, he presents her with a treat as a wedding gift, and mating takes place.
Both parents take care of the chicks.
The female lays up to 10 eggs and incubates them for 28 days. Peacocks make their nests on the ground in dense grass. The peacock does not leave his chosen one and protects her from predators: in case of danger, it dissolves its feathers and distracts the enemy by itself, and the female, using her inconspicuous gray-brown color, disguises herself in the grass. When chicks are born, both parents take care of them. The color of the chicks is the same as that of the mother. They grow quickly, eat a lot, and learn to forage on their own.
For centuries, people have kept peacocks to decorate parks, gardens and homesteads. Royal birds are unpretentious and are not much different from ordinary chickens in keeping. There are several things to keep in mind when keeping a bird of paradise in captivity.
- The peacock is afraid of drafts, so the aviary should be warm.
- The perches should be at least one and a half meters high: so that, sitting on the perch, the male does not break the tail feathers.
- The aviary needs a spacious one: the deployed tail should not rest against the walls and ceiling and interfere with the females.
- The walking enclosure should be at least 6 m in length, have high perches and a net around the perimeter and on the ceiling. When flying off its roost, the bird of paradise plans a few meters, and does not jump sharply down like a chicken or a pheasant.
If conditions permit, then you can let the peacocks go for a walk in the garden. With good care, they are not prone to escaping. You should be sure that they are not in danger from dogs.
In the wild, the peacock is a cautious bird that prefers to flee rather than engage in battle. In captivity, the royal bird demonstrates a quarrelsome character: it does not get along well with other poultry, often attacks it, taking advantage of its superiority in size. Males are especially aggressive during the mating season and females with small chicks.
How do royal birds communicate with each other?
Royal birds have an extremely unpleasant voice: it seems that a cat with a cold is screaming, or a person with complete hearing loss is learning to play the trumpet. This contrasts with the bird's chic appearance. Fortunately, the birds of paradise do not often voice their voices: at the moment of danger or in case of approaching rain and thunderstorms.
Until recently, it remained a mystery how these silent birds communicate with each other. Scientists have found that peacocks "talk" to each other at very low frequencies that are not audible to the human ear. This feature explains the ability to "predict" bad weather and the approach of a predator. Other animals also differ in their ability to communicate at low frequencies: elephants, giraffes, alligators, whales.
Peacocks use ultra-low frequency sounds to communicate with each other.
Peacocks use infrasound to communicate with each other and to receive information from the environment.
Other types of peacocks
In addition to the usual blue, there are other types of peacocks: Javanese, white, African. They differ in color, size and habitat.
Green, or Javanese, peacock
This breed lives in southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Java, southern China. It is colored brighter than the blue peacock (green colors prevail in the plumage) and exceeds the latter in size. The crest on the head is down. The voice is softer than that of the blue counterpart. The tail is flat and elongated. The bird is the largest of all peacocks. Males of this species are extremely aggressive in captivity, which complicates their breeding. Breeding season April - September. When crossed in captivity with a simple peacock, it produces fertile offspring called "spaulding".
The Javan peacock is common in the countries of Southeast Asia.
White peacock
Contrary to popular belief, this is not an albino, but a peacock breed with white feathers. These birds have blue eyes, and on the upper tail of the males there is a pattern in the form of "eyes", but it is painted in white. This is an artificially bred breed. Chicks are born with yellow down on the body, acquiring white plumage as they mature. Living in natural conditions and keeping in captivity are no different from the life of colored breeds.
The white peacock is not an albino, but a separate breed of bird.
Red peacock
The African peacock was identified as an independent breed only in the 20th century. This species is distinguished by a red-green-blue color of plumage, a bare head of gray-blue color, an orange-red throat and a crown on the head of a bunch of straight-out feathers. This species of peacocks lives in Africa, in the Congo basin and wet forests Zaire. Representatives of this breed are smaller than their counterparts. They have spurs on their legs. The uppertail feathers of males are much shorter than those of other breeds, and do not have pronounced "eyes". The only monogamous species of peacocks. Pava lays and incubates 2-4 eggs over a period of 27 days. The male is all this time next to her and protects the future offspring.
The red peacock lives in the countries of Central and North Africa.
Different descriptions of the peacock's color in the literature can be explained precisely by the variety of colors.
Breeders are constantly working on developing new color options, crossing different breeds of peacocks. But only four of the above are distinguished as independent ones.
Summary
The peacock is a bird of unique beauty, which for centuries has been ranked first among the most beautiful birds in the world. Many myths and legends, sayings and superstitions are associated with it. Some peoples deify the bird of paradise, others attribute witchcraft to it. In Russia, the peacock is a symbol of arrogance, arrogance. Hindus have revered the peacock as a sacred bird for many centuries. In Asia, the royal bird is revered for its ability to predict the approach of bad weather, a snake or a predator with sharp cries. In China, the royal bird is a symbol of happiness and well-being in the family. In Great Britain, the bird of paradise is a symbol of misfortune and failure. The British believe that if there are peacock feathers in the parents' house, then the daughters will remain unmarried. In the theatrical environment, the feather of a royal bird on the stage is a harbinger of the failure of the production.
In any case, this magnificent bird leaves no one indifferent.
Rumors about where peacocks live reached European shores much earlier than the birds themselves. The sailors admired the bright plumage and beauty of the birds. Active interest in them does not subside until now, although almost all zoos and reserves proudly display peacocks. So where do birds of paradise live in the wild?
The peacock is one of the most numerous large birds in the wild.
Beautiful birds from legends and fairy tales have always attracted a lot of attention. Previously, they lived in the Pacific Islands and Australia. This was the reason that firebirds were present only in the stories of sailors, from where they eventually migrated into fairy tales. According to legend, the Dutch pioneers were the first to see the birds. From them came the name "birds of paradise". This name of peacocks is still preserved in English language... The Europeans learned about the wonderful birds thanks to the trade sea routes. After that, rumors about birds reached America.
Today, birds are common on almost all continents and in all countries. There are many species of birds of paradise, among which in the rainforest there are also titmouse-sized ones.
- Forests of India. Indian bird species are considered the most popular in the world. They are distinguished by a green tail and blue plumage. Where exactly does the peacock live there? At first, this bird species lived only in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In the natural environment, peacocks prefer places to live near forest clearings, river banks and rural crops. Pastures and crops are suitable for foraging.
- Thailand and Africa... The majority of bird species are found in these areas. For example, one of the most numerous species - the Javanese peacock - comes from Thailand. Outwardly, it is very similar to its Indian relative, differs in plumage color, which has a pronounced green tint. The African Congolese bird of paradise is also common. The homeland of the peacock is even near the Himalayas, where some of their species are common.
Birds prefer to live in dense thickets, where it is difficult to keep up with them. Peacocks live in the jungle or forests overgrown with dense bushes.
As already mentioned, these birds live in Nepal, Australia, Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Where peacocks live, they eat insects, seeds and plants. Occasionally they feed on small animals.
Burmese - subspecies of the Indian peacock
Peacocks facts help you to better understand the history of birds. The name "peacock" has long become a household name for narcissistic people. The reason for this lies in the behavior of the birds themselves, which from the outside look extremely graceful, as if feeling superior to the rest. This refers to the "stronger sex", because among peacocks it is the males who can boast of a large and beautiful tail, and the females look very modest.
Surprisingly, the luxurious feather fan, which is a real decoration of the bird, has nothing to do with the tail, as is commonly thought. The tail of birds is small and neat. The attention-grabbing feathers are located in front of the tail, which they cover when folded. Out of habit, non-specialists continue to refer to beautiful feathers as a tail. An interesting fact about peacocks is that such a bird's decoration grows by the third year of life. Moreover, the average lifespan of paradise birds is 20 years.
With a feather fan, peacocks:
- They take care of the "weaker sex"... Nature did not award peacocks with vocal data. Therefore, males lure girlfriends with a feather fan. And, I must say, they do it well, because one male can "charm" up to three females. Courtship is a real ritual.
- Defend against enemies... Peacocks also use their tail as a defense against predators. The enemy usually retreats under the influence of a loose feather fan.
- "Talk" to each other... Scientists claim that when feathers move, ultrasound is emitted that is not available to the human ear. Sometimes even small wobbles of the tail can be traced, which run from the base of the feather to its end. The vibrations are accompanied by a light sound similar to the rustling of grass.
With such a decoration, despite the external weight, peacocks get along very deftly, even rising into the air. Birds of paradise hover above the ground for a short time, but at the same time they look incredibly graceful.
The appearance of birds from time immemorial guaranteed them a place in the royal gardens and imperial palaces. Birds are considered a symbol of splendor, pride and immortality in eastern countries. They often became actors fairy tales, and in legends and myths they were faithful companions of the gods. The birds are considered sacred in India. Here they are also a national symbol. But not everyone treats firebirds with the same admiration, for some peoples they have become a symbol of misfortune and misfortune.
The green peacock lives in the rainforest
Summary
Where does the peacock live today? These birds of paradise have already settled on many continents. They can be found both in the savannah and in the impenetrable rainforests. They settle at the foot of the Himalayas and build nests at the edge of the forest. Birds have interesting aspects that make them special and attract the attention of zoologists to them.
The image of a peacock has been known to many since childhood. It was from this tropical bird that the fabulous image of the firebird was written off. The question - what does a peacock look like - causes people to associate a large bird with a lush, rich and beautiful tail, as well as a kind of wreath on its head.
The description of the peacock usually begins with stories about the appearance of the bird, the length of the plumage and the size. However, an important question - to which family of the order of chickens the peacock belongs - very often remains unanswered. And they belong to the pheasant family. It is this relationship that explains the presence of a long and so recognizable tail in males. The color of the bird depends on the subspecies.
The general characteristics of birds looks like this:
- Weight - from 2.5 to 5.5 kg,
- Bird body length - up to 140 cm,
- The wingspan is up to 250 cm.
The most beautiful birds in the world also have one of the longest tails in the animal kingdom - feathers in the upper tail of males can reach 180 and even 200 cm in length. The number of feathers in the upper tail can exceed two hundred pieces.
Where does the peacock live
The islands in the Pacific Ocean, India and some regions of Australia are considered the homeland of the peacock. Dutch sailors were the first in the world to learn about these beautiful birds, and they also brought peacocks to Europe. The unusual appearance of the birds immediately brought them popularity, and after a few decades they spread widely in Europe, came to the USA and Russia.
Everyone familiar with the common peacock in nature lives in the dense forests of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Javanese species have chosen the islands of Thailand and Java. And the Congolese subspecies lives in African countries, preferring to settle in the jungle. Some of the rarer peacock species even live in the Himalayas.
Almost all peacocks are listed in the Red Book and are protected by states.
According to the International Conservation Association, the population of the Javanese or green subspecies is less than a thousand individuals in the wild and is threatened with extinction.
Lifestyle
Peacocks live in flocks or families. Each family consists of one male and three to five females. Birds are sedentary. Contrary to popular belief, they fly great. Only it is not so easy to see the flight of this bird of paradise. At home, they have no enemies and no need to climb the wing. In nature, they are able to rise to a height of up to a kilometer and fly at a speed of up to 20 km per hour. However, the flight duration is usually short.
They are rather shy and careful, preferring to flee from predators. They spend the daytime in search of food, and with the advent of evening twilight they settle on the branches of trees, where they feel more secure. These birds of paradise feed on various seeds and fruits of plants and trees, young shoots of grass, look for insects, small lizards and frogs in the thickets. If there is a reservoir nearby, they will gladly feast on shellfish. The mating season begins in the spring, with the arrival of the rains. The female lays from three to six eggs in the nest (female Javanese peacocks have only one or two eggs in a clutch), and incubation continues for a month.
Peacock cry
Even children know how peacocks scream. Many people associate the sound and shrill cries of a bird with the creak of an old cart and even with the screams of a frightened cat. How the peacock screams depends on the time of year and the situation. The frightened bird makes harsh, loud and intermittent sounds. During the mating season, males scream loudly, especially in the morning. The cry is notable for its length and sonority. The opinion that the peacock sings during mating games is wrong. During the breeding season, males begin to show aggression not only towards relatives, but also towards other birds and even animals.
These graceful birds are very sensitive to changes in moisture and atmospheric pressure, and often voice before the rain.
That is why the people of India and the island of Java have developed a belief that they are able to call rain.
At home, feathered pets are calmer and breeders know several types of quieter and sometimes barely distinguishable peacock sounds. A worried or agitated bird most often makes low sounds, similar to chirping, they express surprise with a feline-like rumbling, and resort to their loud cry only in case of increased nervousness or stress.
Few facts about peacocks
Interesting Peacocks Facts:
- In nature, peacocks live on average 10-15 years,
- How many years a peacock lives at home - depends on feeding and maintenance, but on average, birds live about 25 years,
- There is a known case when a male peacock lived for 31 years,
- The female peacock is called the peacock, and the peacock's chick is called the peacock,
- For many peoples, the bird is a symbol of love, pride, greatness and immortality,
- They reach puberty at the age of three,
- There are only three species of peacock in the world,
- Almost all species of peacocks are included in the International Red Book,
- In England it is believed that the feathers of this bird of paradise in the house bring misfortune,
- In India, at all times, birds have been treated with respect. The reason for this is that peacocks love to eat young snakes,
- The Indian peacock has more than 17 different basic colors and about 200 color forms, obtained by crossing birds of different colors.
- The tail of the male plays several important roles: it attracts the attention of females, scares away predators and emits infrasounds, if necessary. Such sounds are perceived by females as an alarm signal, and by males as a challenge to a duel.
Common peacock
Taxonomy
Russian name- Common or Indian or blue peacock
Latin name- Pavo cristatus
English name- (Indian) peafowl
Class- Birds (Aves)
Detachment- Galliformes
Family- Pheasant (Phasianidae)
Genus- Peacocks (Pavo)
The most numerous species of peacocks. It is a monotypic species, i.e. it has no subspecies, but there are several color variations. This color variation is precisely the white peacock; white peacocks are not albinos.
Conservation status
The common peacock belongs to the species, the number and status of which in nature does not cause concern. This is a common, and in places numerous species, the wild population of these peacocks is approximately 100,000 individuals.
View and person
Peacocks willingly settle in agricultural landscapes and on the outskirts of villages. In some countries, except India, they are hunted for the sake of luxurious feathers and meat (not very tasty, though). Peacocks are well tamed, they were domesticated in India about 4000 years ago and are still considered the sacred bird of this country. The peacock is dedicated to the god Krishna, and the Buddha is often depicted riding a peacock.
In ancient times, domestic peacocks spread throughout the Mediterranean. In Greek mythology, the peacock is the favorite bird of the goddess Hera. From Greece, the peacock spread to other countries of Europe, and, possibly, to Asia Minor. This is evidenced by the fact that all Asian names for the peacock are borrowed from the Greek language. V Ancient rome the peacock was also considered a sacred bird, which did not prevent, however, from eating it. In the Middle Ages, knights decorated their helmets and hats with peacock feathers, and ladies used them for fans and garments. At large feasts, fried peacocks in feathers were served on the table, although the meat of these birds is not very tasty. In the 19th century, peacocks imported to Mexico became wild, and now they are semi-domesticated in the southern states of the United States. Such semi-domestic peacocks in some tropical areas again became feral, and on many islands they were brought specially as game.
To this day, the peacock, as a symbol of beauty, wealth, love, passion, as well as immortality, arrogance and vanity, holds a special place among human domestic animals. However, even now there is a belief that peacock feathers bring misfortune.
Peacocks are now kept in many parks as decorative birds, despite their loud, harsh, "meowing" calls. As a rule, they live in freedom, outside the enclosure, calmly walking between people. They get along poorly with other poultry.
In the wild, peacocks can cause some harm to agricultural fields.
Since 1963, the peacock has been the national bird of India and, unofficially, the national bird of Iran.
Distribution and habitats
The common peacock is common in forests and savannas on the Indian subcontinent and on the island of Ceylon; up to 2000 m rises in the mountains. Peacocks avoid both absolutely open spaces and dense thickets. They willingly settle near villages on agricultural land.
Appearance
Peacocks are one of the largest representatives of the order of chickens and, like almost all chickens, are characterized by pronounced sexual dimorphism, i.e. external difference between males and females. Males are both larger and much brighter colored than females.
The body length of the male is 180-230 cm, the tail is 40-50 cm, the elongated feathers decorated with "eyes" are 120-160 cm, the wingspan is 160 cm, the weight is 4-6 kg. The female (pava) is 90-100 cm long, weighs 2.7-4 kg. The head, neck and chest of the male are blue, the back is green, the lower body is black. What is colloquially called the "tail" of a peacock is actually the elongated feathers of the upper tail. They form a train of bronze and golden-green feathers racked for most of the length with metallic shiny blue-orange-violet eyes and triangular emerald braids. It is these feathers that males open so effectively and play with them in front of females (and at the same time in front of us). Females of peacocks are colored much more modestly and do not have such luxurious elongated upper tail feathers.
Domestic peacocks are heavier and have shorter legs.
Lifestyle and social behavior
Peacocks usually keep in small groups, where there are 4-5 females per male. Peacocks are very careful and with their loud cries warn other animals of danger. They themselves, in case of danger, try to escape without resorting to flight. Despite their long "tail" they run fast and maneuver in thickets very dexterously. Peacocks can fly, but not high and not for long.
However, peacocks spend the night and rest in the trees, climbing quite high. Every evening they return to spend the night at the same tree, having previously visited the watering place. When settling down for the night, peacocks usually scream loudly. The morning also begins with a watering hole, after which the peacocks go in search of food.
During the non-nesting period, peacocks often “graze” in flocks of 40-50 birds.
In autumn, after the end of the breeding season, peacocks molt and males completely lose their trail.
Peacocks have many enemies, these are large predatory mammals, for example, leopards, and birds of prey, both day and night, so peacocks need to be careful.
Nutrition and Feeding Behavior.
Peacocks feed on the ground. Main food - seeds and green parts different plants, berries, fruits. But in addition to plant food, they willingly eat not only invertebrates, but even small vertebrates: frogs, lizards, rodents and small snakes, including poisonous ones. In India, peacocks are kept in villages precisely to fight snakes.
Vocalization
The voice of the peacocks is loud, harsh and unpleasant to the ear, at least for humans. It is like the loud screams of a cat, "when they stepped on its tail." This is how people who often heard these screams characterize the voice of peacocks. Peacocks often scream before rain, and since the breeding season, when peacocks are especially "talkative", coincides with the rainy season, peacocks are often heard in rainy weather. In India, there is even a belief that peacocks call rain with their cries.
Reproduction and parenting behavior
Peacocks are polygamous, each male has a "harem" of 3-5 females. Their breeding season lasts from April to October. The beginning of nesting is preceded by mating games. On the current, the male dissolves his train, shouts, shakes his plumage, turns from side to side. Fierce fights also occur between males. If the female does not show due attention, then the male defiantly turns his back to her. This continues until the female is ready to mate. Peacocks' nests are usually located on the ground in some kind of shelter, but they can also be on trees or on the roofs of buildings. Sometimes peavas occupy empty nests of birds of prey. Only the female incubates, the incubation period lasts 28 days. Chicks, like all chickens, are of the brood type, i.e. can follow mother shortly after hatching.
Young males are similar in color to females, a full male outfit appears only at the age of 3 years, when peacocks become sexually mature.
Life span
In nature, peacocks live for about 15 years, in captivity for more than 20.
Life at the Moscow Zoo.
In our zoo, peacocks live in a pergola near the Big Pond in the Old Territory. There you can see 2 white peacocks (pair) and 15-17 blue ones. A few years ago, peacocks roamed freely throughout the zoo. However, due to the fact that they were offended by visitors, this practice had to be stopped.
In the pergola, peacocks breed, some of the eggs are taken to the incubator, and some of the females incubate themselves. After hatching of the chicks, the female with the brood is placed in another, more spacious aviary.
The peacocks' diet includes vegetable food (various kinds of grains, fruits, berries, vegetables) in an amount of about 1 kg and animals (about 100 g); only about 1100 g. In addition, they receive an unlimited amount of gravel and shells, which the birds need to better digest their feed. In summer, green twigs and fresh grass are added to the peacocks' food.
The most luxurious bird in the world can be considered, and all thanks to its unique tail. It belongs to the Pheasant subfamily of the order Chicken-like, along with big-footed ones, craxes and toothed-billed partridges. The bird is distinguished not only by a fan of beautiful feathers in the upper tail, but also by other indicators, due to which its domestication occurred.
What does it look like
Peacock- the most numerous and widespread species of these magnificent birds. A small head on a long graceful neck, decorated with a plume, matches the upper tail in tone. 
The body is oval, elongated, smoothly merging into an elegant tail. The plumage of the Indian peacock is iridescent blue and green, possibly bronze.
The pava, which is smaller than the male, is colored brown. 
Until the birds reach 1.5–2 years of age, it is impossible to visually determine the sex, since the plumage and body shape of the male and female are the same. Small wings prevent the bird from flying, so it spends most of its time on the ground, although it can take off if necessary.
Appearance and physique
Exterior of the Indian peacock:
- The body is oval, large.
- Chest and back are broad and prominent.
- The tail is small, directed downward. In the second year of life, the male has a long tail tail feathers. The pen length is full size the bird itself.
- A small graceful head is decorated with a tuft.
- The neck is long and proportional. The plumage of the neck is dense, iridescent in black, blue, white and green shades.
- Females are more faded, their plumage is made in gray-brown tones. Peavas do not have such a unique tail as males.
- High, powerful legs are not feathered. The beak and paws are gray.
- The eyes are black, framed with white stripes on both sides.
Weight and dimensions
Species characteristics:
- the weight of males is 3.5–4 kg and that of females is 3–3.5 kg;
- body length reaches 100 cm;
- tail - 30 cm;
- uppertail feathers can reach a length of 120–160 cm;
- the wingspan of the male is 200–230 cm, that of the female is 90–100 cm;
- egg weight - 100 g;
- shell color - cream;
- egg production - 30 eggs during laying;
- hatchability of eggs - 80–90%.
Where does it live and how long it lives
The main habitat is Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Congo River basin. Also found in other countries. The species introduced to America have run wild and are now found in the American jungle. Habitat - shrubs in the undergrowth, on the banks of rivers, on the edges, in the forests. Feeding on grains, they very often settle near cultivated fields. They move quite nimbly in the thickets, while the tail does not interfere with the male in any way. 
In their natural habitat, the average life expectancy is 10-15 years old, and home breeding - up to 23. According to zoologists, the number of wild peacocks today is about 100,000 individuals.
Important!In India, the harm caused by peacocks to crops is noted along with the benefits they bring by killing pests. Therefore, in home breeding, it is not recommended to let peacocks go free-range.
Lifestyle and habits
They live in small groups - 1 male and 3-5 females. Nests are made on the ground in the bushes. Here they feed. They settle for the night on the branches of trees, where birds rest during the day. Having chosen one tree, they prefer to return to it every evening. 
They can be hunted by large mammals and birds of prey. Therefore, the birds do not go far from the bushes, and the sun glare in the tail allows them to successfully camouflage. When breeding at home, it should be borne in mind that peacocks do not get along very well with other residents of the courtyard. Therefore, they need a fenced in their own living area.
The bird perfectly tolerates a cold climate and painlessly withstands snowy winters. Peacocks are disease resistant.
Important!In India, peacocks are kept specifically for fighting snakes.
What eats
Birds meet the dawn at a watering hole. Then their working day begins. The main task to be solved is the search for food. The basis of the diet is vegetation, berries, nuts, grains, insects. They also actively feast on small rodents and reptiles. In general, peacocks eat everything in foliage and grass. They are quite unpretentious in nutrition and are not at all selective. 
In home content with the same food as - grain, roots, vegetables. They can also add nuts, berries, dried fruits to their food.
Reproduction and parenting behavior
They live in flocks - one male and 3-5 females... Up to 2 years, males and females grow and outwardly do not differ at all from each other. In the third year of life, young animals become sexually mature, which is expressed in the growth of feathers in the male and a change in color. 
Mating dance consists of demonstrating in all its glory the plumage of the male. It is believed that the female chooses the male for the brightness of the plumage. The healthier and more productive the bird is, the brighter its feathers. Reproduction in the Indian peacock coincides with the warm season in the places where it lives. In India, it is July-October, in Sri Lanka, January-April.
Video: mating dance of a peacock
The female creates a nest in secluded shelters, in dense bushes. The nest is shaped like a grass-filled pit. Pava lays 4–10 eggs there and begins to incubate a clutch. In home breeding, egg production can be extended by removing some of the eggs from the nest. This way the pava can lay up to 30 eggs. 
The clutch is incubated - 28 days. Females feed the chicks. Chicks become active by the end of the first day of life, so they can find food even on their own.