Peacock

A peacock is the name for the male peafowl, a large, ground-dwelling bird in the pheasant family, famous for its long, iridescent blue-green tail feathers used in courtship displays. The female is called a peahen. 🦚

The male peacock is renowned for its spectacular train of feathers, which are not from the tail but are highly elongated upper tail coverts. This train, which can be over five feet long, is adorned with striking "eyespots" and can be fanned out into a large arc. The peacock's body is typically a metallic blue or green. In contrast, the peahen is much more camouflaged, with a duller gray-brown plumage.

Peacocks are native to forests and grasslands in Asia and Africa, but they have been introduced to other parts of the world. They are omnivores that forage on the ground, eating a variety 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, struts, and shakes the feathers to create a rustling sound. While they are ground birds, they can fly and will often roost in trees at night to avoid predators.