Peacocks on parade

Peafowls are most common in the wild in India (Pavo cristatus) and Sri Lanka (Pavo muticus), as well as other regions of Asia. They are related to the pheasant family (such as the golden pheasant in the photograh below).

Peacocks are the male peafowls and peahens are the females. Males have colourful feathers, whereas females have less striking feathers. They are large, growing up to 90-130 centimetres (35-50 inches) with distinctive metallic blue and green feathers.

Their most distinctive feature is their long tail (150 centimetres; 60 inches) with iridescent “eyes.” The peacock fans out his tail to attract females, and to frighten away predators with their “eye” spots.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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