Peacock: National Bird of India

Here’s one beauty that wins ‘tails up’ against any beauty queen in categories like costume, dancing, posing and strutting among others - in spite of being male!

With a fan-shaped crest on its head for a crown and a long train of ornamental feathers on its iridescent blue and green body, the Indian peacock is one of the world’s most spectacular birds.

The train of the peacock, is not a true tail but frond-like plumes called ‘coverts’ that cover the short tail feathers underneath. An adult peacock has about 150 coverts, each measuring about five feet. The train feathers have a series of eyespots that are best seen when the train is erect and fanned out.

Peafowl are sociable and live in a group called ‘ostentation’ or ‘muster’ comprising one male and about five females.

The peacock screeches, struts about, spreads out and vibrates his magnificent tail, angling it over his head like a fan to attract the peahen (who has a crest but does not have a train). The more eyespots on the peacock’s train, the more attractive he is to potential mates!

After mating, the feckless peacock’s role is over, and he plays no part in nest-building or raising the young.

In the wild, the peafowl spend much of their time on the ground looking for food. They tend to forage in the same place every day, scratching over earth and leaf litter to uncover worms and seeds.

Peafowl warn each other of danger by emitting loud, shrieking cries and honks. They have pointed spurs on the backs of their legs for kicking in defense.

When flushed, they take flight with little noise, rising almost vertically to the tree tops although they do not fly far.

They roost in tall trees at night, to keep safe from predators like dogs, foxes, leopards and tigers.

Nothing symbolizes India as accurately and completely as the peacock: the multifaceted cultures in its iridescent blue-green plumage, unity in diversity in the harmony of its clashing colours, the Bharat Natyam in its dancing poses, the classic namaste poise of its head… Go on, look around you at the Diwali lamps, at the fireworks… and add to the list!

No wonder, this non-migratory Indian beauty is found in zoos, parks and gardens all over the world - the de facto goodwill ambassador of India.

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama