peacock

The peacock is the male object of the peafowl, with the term often used to refer to the male alone. The female is the peahen, and the young are peachicks. The species most commonly associated with the name is the Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus, a member of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Peafowl are native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions, but they are kept widely in captivity and have been introduced elsewhere. A closely related species, the green peafowl (Pavo muticus), is found in Southeast Asia.

Male Indian peafowl are renowned for their iridescent blue and green plumage, a short crest on the head, and a long train of elongated tail coverts that bear eye-like markings. This train can be fanned dramatically during courtship. Females are duller, brown and speckled, with no train.

In the wild, peafowl inhabit forests and open woodlands near water, but they also occur in cultivated areas and parks. They are omnivores, feeding on seeds, grains, insects, small vertebrates and plant matter. They roost in trees at night and often forage in small groups.

Breeding involves courtship displays by males, who attract females by fanning their train and vocalizing. If a female is receptive, she nests on the ground and lays a clutch of several eggs; incubation lasts about four weeks. Peachicks are precocial and begin feeding soon after hatching.

Conservation status: The Indian peafowl is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range pose local threats. The bird has cultural significance in South Asia and is the national bird of India. The green peafowl is more threatened in comparison.