Peacock
The term 'peacock' is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks, females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.
Blue or Indian peacocks are members of the pheasant family, known for their iridescent tails. The peacocks brilliant ‘train’ contains over 200 shimmering feathers of bronze and green, each one decorated with eyespots. Their long trains are not the tail quill feathers but elongated upper tail feather coverts.
Peacocks weigh between 9 and 13 lbs. (4 to 5.9 kg) have a 35 to 50 in. (90 to 130 cm) body and a 60 in. (150 cm) 150-cm (60-inch) train with iridescent colouring of blue and green on its head, neck and breast. Both males and females have sharp, powerful metatarsal spurs also known as ‘kicking thorns’ which they use to defend themselves against predators. Their legs are strong but because their wing surface to bodyweight ratio is not large they are incapable of long flights.
Peafowl are mainly ground dwelling birds preferring forests and farmland. They can also be found in bushlands and rainforests. Many will nest on the ground while some will roost in trees. They are ground feeding omnivores. they scratching around in leaf litter either early in the morning or at dusk to find food then retreat to the shade and security of the woods for the hottest portion of the day. They eat mostly plants, flower petals, seed heads and actively hunt insects like ants, crickets, termites, millipedes and other arthropods and small mammals. Blue peafowl also eat small snakes.
Domesticated peafowl may also eat bread and cracked grain such as oats and corn, cheese, cooked rice and sometimes cat food. It has been noticed by keepers that peafowl enjoy protein rich food including larvae that infest granaries, different kinds of meat and fruit, as well as vegetables including dark leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, beans, beets, and peas.
Blue peacocks, though native to the warm and humid climates of India and Sri Lanka can survive northern winters. The life span of a healthy peafowl can be 40 to 50 years.
The blue peafowls conservation status is LC (least concern).
Peacock
The term 'peacock' is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks, females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.
Blue or Indian peacocks are members of the pheasant family, known for their iridescent tails. The peacocks brilliant ‘train’ contains over 200 shimmering feathers of bronze and green, each one decorated with eyespots. Their long trains are not the tail quill feathers but elongated upper tail feather coverts.
Peacocks weigh between 9 and 13 lbs. (4 to 5.9 kg) have a 35 to 50 in. (90 to 130 cm) body and a 60 in. (150 cm) 150-cm (60-inch) train with iridescent colouring of blue and green on its head, neck and breast. Both males and females have sharp, powerful metatarsal spurs also known as ‘kicking thorns’ which they use to defend themselves against predators. Their legs are strong but because their wing surface to bodyweight ratio is not large they are incapable of long flights.
Peafowl are mainly ground dwelling birds preferring forests and farmland. They can also be found in bushlands and rainforests. Many will nest on the ground while some will roost in trees. They are ground feeding omnivores. they scratching around in leaf litter either early in the morning or at dusk to find food then retreat to the shade and security of the woods for the hottest portion of the day. They eat mostly plants, flower petals, seed heads and actively hunt insects like ants, crickets, termites, millipedes and other arthropods and small mammals. Blue peafowl also eat small snakes.
Domesticated peafowl may also eat bread and cracked grain such as oats and corn, cheese, cooked rice and sometimes cat food. It has been noticed by keepers that peafowl enjoy protein rich food including larvae that infest granaries, different kinds of meat and fruit, as well as vegetables including dark leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, beans, beets, and peas.
Blue peacocks, though native to the warm and humid climates of India and Sri Lanka can survive northern winters. The life span of a healthy peafowl can be 40 to 50 years.
The blue peafowls conservation status is LC (least concern).