Peacock Life Style

Habitat

They are found in low altitude areas, generally below 1800 meters from the sea-level. In the wild, they inhabit a wide range of habitats ranging from semi-dry grasslands to moist deciduous forests.They prefer to live near water-bodies. They also live around areas of human habitation, near farms, villages and often in urban areas. They forage and nest on the ground but roost on trees tops.

Physical Traits

The males of the species, also known as peacocks, present a strikingly beautiful appearance that is well-appreciated throughout the world. They can grow to a length of 195 to 225 cm from tip of the beak to the end of the train and weigh an average of 5 Kg. The peacock’s head, neck and breast are iridescent blue in color. They have patches of white around the eyes. They have a crest of upright feathers on top of the head which are short and tipped with blue feathers. The most notable feature in the peacock is the extravagantly beautiful tail, which is also known as the train. The train is fully developed only after 4 years of hatching.

The female peafowl or peahen lacks the flamboyant colors altogether. They predominantly have brownish grey coloring, and sometimes have a crest similar to the peacock but brown in color. They totally lack the elaborate train and have dark brown tail feathers. They have whitish face and throat, brown hind neck and back, a white belly and a metallic green upper breast. The Peahens grow upto a length of 0.95 m and weigh somewhere between 2.75 to 4 Kg. 

Behavior

The Indian peafowls are best known for the beautifully elegant display of feathers the evolution of which is believed to be driven by sexual selection. The peacocks spread their train in the shape of a fan and quiver them during the courtship display. It is believed that the number of eyespots in a male’s courtship display determines his success in mating. Peafowls are omnivorous in their feeding habit and survive on insects, seeds, fruits and even small mammals. They forage on the ground in small groups which has a single male and 3-5 females. They roost as a group as well on the upper branches of a tall tree to escape predators. When agitated they will prefer to flee by running, rarely opting to take a flight. The males are surprisingly agile on foot despite the long train. 

 Legends and Culture

The peacock has been a prominent feature in Indian literature as its resplendent beauty is a source of inspiration for many. In popular legends, when the peacock displays its glorious plume, it’s a sign of rain.  They have iconic status as the carrier animal of the Hindu god Kartikeya. Lord Krishna was always depicted with a peacock feather in his headdress. In Buddhist philosophy the peacock represents wisdom. The peacock and its feather motifs are prominent features in Mughal architecture. The peacock and the peacock feather is still a popular motif to be used in logos, textile patterns as well as designs.

The Indian peafowl has been granted special conservation efforts owing to its status as the National Bird of India. Hunting of the national bird is illegal. Although the total number of Indian Peafowl is unknown, they are abundant enough to be labeled ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Red List.