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Jul 15, 2014 · She also thinks the eyespots may be the result of female preference: Research shows that female birds of the species prefer eye-shaped features on males over other shapes. (Watch a video of an ...
- Jessica Hullinger
- Only the male birds are actually “peacocks.” The collective name for birds in the genus Pavo is “peafowl.” There are two species of peafowl: the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and the Congo peafowl (Pavo muticus).
- A family of peafowl is called a bevy. A group of the birds is also sometimes called an ostentation, a muster, or even a party.
- Peacocks are not born with their fancy tail feathers. The male peachicks don’t start growing their showy trains until about age 3. In fact, it’s hard to tell the sex of a peachick because they’re nearly identical to their mothers.
- Peacocks don’t have to be killed for their feathers. Luckily, the peacocks shed their train every year after mating season, so the feathers can be gathered and sold without the birds coming to any harm.
- Peacocks have iconic colorful tail feathers. The peacock's iridescent feathers don't come from pigments. Instead, they are a product of microscopic structures within each peacock feather.
- Peacock trains follow the Fibonacci sequence. A peacock's tail feathers are doubly mesmerizing because they follow the Fibonacci sequence: a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two before it (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on).
- There are three peacock species in the world. Peacocks belong to the pheasant family Phasianidae. Three peacock species exist: the Indian Peacock, the Green Peacock, and the Congo Peafowl.
- Peacocks are male birds. Only the males flaunt bright feathers to attract their female counterparts, which have more subdued colors. Peacock feathers indicate vitality and genetic fitness.
Their tail feathers get their colors from two pigments: melanin and iridescence. Melanin. Melanin is the same pigment that gives human skin and hair its color. Peacocks have melanin granules in their feathers that create black, brown, and beige hues. The background colors of the feathers are melanin-based. Interestingly, melanin production is ...
Sep 22, 2020 · Peacock, or peafowl, refers to a large mostly ground-dwelling bird of the genera Pavo and Afropavo. Belonging to Phasianidae, the same family as pheasants, peacocks are known for the colorful fan-like plumage they often display. Two species are native to Asia and one to Africa. However, they are common semi-domestic birds and can be observed in aviaries and parks around the world.
- Shawn Laidlaw
- Galliformes
- Aves
- Chordata
Understanding why peacocks have such colorful feathers can shed light on the evolution of birds and the role that color plays in the animal kingdom. So, let’s take a closer look at the mysteries of peacock plumage and uncover the secrets behind these beautiful birds.
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Jul 10, 2013 · Why do peacocks have bright tails? The incredible plumage of the peacock is an example of sexual selection in evolution, where traits that the opposite sex finds attractive are amplified. This can occur even when the traits are disadvantageous in other ways – such as the peacock’s tail, which can make the animals more obvious to predators.
