Peacocks

Peacocks are male peafowl, and they are famous for their stunning tail feathers. These beautiful tail feathers can be over 5 feet long and have colorful eye-shaped spots. Peacocks spread their feathers into a huge fan to attract peahens, the females.

Feather Display

A peacock's tail feathers are called a train. The bright blue, green, and gold colors come from the structure of the feathers, not from pigments. When light hits the feathers at different angles, the colors seem to change. This is called iridescence.

Peafowl Life

Peafowl are native to South Asia and are the national bird of India. They eat insects, plants, and small creatures. Peafowl can fly short distances and often roost in trees at night. They make loud calls that can be heard from far away.

Fun Facts

• A peacock's train can have over 200 feathers.
• Peafowl can fly despite their long tail feathers.
• White peacocks are not albinos but a color mutation.

Did You Know?

Peacocks shed their beautiful tail feathers every year after mating season. The feathers grow back even more magnificent the following year!