Peafowl

A peafowl is a large bird in the pheasant family that is native to Asia and Africa. The term "peafowl" refers to both the male and female of the species; a male is called a peacock, and a female is called a peahen. They are best known for the male's spectacular, colorful tail feathers. 🦚

The male peacock is famous for its long, iridescent blue-green train of feathers, which can extend over 5 feet in length. The feathers are not from the tail but are actually specialized upper tail coverts. Each feather is adorned with a large, colorful eyespot or "ocellus." The peahen is much more subdued in color, with a duller gray-brown plumage, which allows her to be camouflaged while nesting.

Peafowl are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and grasslands. They are omnivores that forage on the ground, eating a diverse diet of seeds, grains, fruits, insects, and small reptiles.

The peacock's elaborate train is used in a courtship display to attract a peahen. During this display, the peacock fans its tail feathers into a large, shimmering arc and shakes them to create a rustling sound. Peafowl are ground-dwelling birds but can fly and will often roost in trees at night to avoid predators.