Peacock is a bit of a misnomer, but because that’s how most people recognize them,
we’re going to stick with it, but if you want to get technical, the term
‘peacock’ is specifically in reference to males, while females are called ‘peahens’ and
babies are called ‘peachicks.’ As a whole, they’re ‘peafowl,’ and there are three different species.
The most common, and probably the most familiar, is the blue peacock (Pavo cristatus). The other
two species are the green peacock (Pavo muticus) and the Congo peacock (Afropavo congensis). The
blue peacock is native to India and Sri Lanka, but they have basically been domesticated and live
throughout the world as pets. The green peacock ranges in Southeast Asia from Burma to Indonesia.
They’re more affected by changes in temperature, and, thus, aren’t as hardy as blue peacocks.
They’re also considered to be more aggressive than blue peacocks so they haven’t taken off
as pets the way blue peacocks have. This is probably for the best, though, because green
peacocks are endangered due to population declines from habitat loss and overhunting.
The third and final peacock species was discovered less than a century ago (1936) and lives in Africa
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They’re also listed as vulnerable in the wild and are
probably the least well known of the peacock species. In general, peacocks spend their days
in open forests forging on the ground for food and water and spend their night roosting in trees.
Size-wise, blue and green peacocks are the largest with males averaging 80
inches (2 meters) in length including their train and females averaging 40 inches (1 meter). Congo
peacocks average about 65 inches (1.65 meters) between both the males and females.
Probably the most identifying feature of a peacock are their feathers. Male green and
blue peacocks come in the color of their namesake have and long trains with ocelli or eye spots.
These trains can be more than 50% of their body length and the males use these feathers for mating
and intimidation displays. Some people mistakenly call these the tail feathers
but the train actually covers the tail feathers of male peacocks. Congo peacocks also put on fanned
displays but their train plumage is nowhere near as long as their Asian counterparts.
Blue peahens are rather drab in color sticking to greys and tans with limited colorful plumage,
but green peahens are just as vibrant as the males. Congo peahens are usually green along their
back, with their chest feathers appearing more brown or grey. Only male peacocks have long trains
for display, and after breeding season males will molt their long trains and have to regrow them.
There are also white peacocks. This coloration is relatively rare and is not a form of albinism.
It’s possible for peacocks to be partially white and partially colored, as well.
While they might look regal, most people consider them rather loud and noisy.
But peacocks sound something like this.
And Congo peacocks sound like this. I kind of like the way they sound, what do you think?
Noisy or not, blue peacocks are the national bird of India, so they must be doing something right!
Peacocks are typically ready to mate by three years of age, though it should be noted that
Congo peacocks have not been thoroughly studied in the wild because of their isolated location
and generally shy nature - so new information may show inaccuracies here. A peahen will lay roughly
between two to eight eggs in a nest she constructs on the ground and incubates her clutch for just
under a month. The peachicks are able to fly in just a few weeks of hatching but they'll stick
with their parents for as long as until the next breeding season before flying solo. In the wild,
peacocks can live to be 20 or older, though they don’t usually live as long in captivity.
It’s thought this is the case because captive peacocks don’t have to work as hard finding food,
and this may contribute to them developing chronic diseases that present with overeating
and lack of exercise such as gout. Speaking of diets, peacocks eat bamboo shoots,
flower petals, grasses, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and worms.
In the wild they’re hunted by tigers, jackals, jaguars, and other large predators.
Peacocks hold significance throughout many cultures. Be it for the uses of their feathers
in ailing victims of cobra bites or even just their aesthetic value in fashion and design,
they’re some of the most well known birds in the animal kingdom.
For more facts on peacocks (or peafowl) check out the links in the description.
Let us know what you think of these majestic birds in the comments! Please give a thumbs
up if you enjoyed this episode and we’ll see you next time on Animal Fact Files.