Females have a rather unremarkable appearance, while males have an outstanding bright plumage. It is impossible to take your eyes off at the sight of a graceful male who has spread his luxurious feathers.
The peacock reaches sexual maturity closer to three years. Being a polygamous bird, as a rule, it lives in a group with 3-5 females.
In addition to the usual available facts about these charming birds, there are many more interesting ones, some of which are quite surprising.
most Interesting Facts The best weapon is beauty
The notorious "tail", which has such a colorful color, is necessary to attract the attention of females. It is by dissolving his amazing “fan” and showing bright feathers that the male seeks the location of the peahen (female peacock) in order to continue the race. But in addition to the charm of females, it also serves to scare off enemies.
With an impending threat, the peacock spreads its tail like a fan and creates the appearance of hundreds of "eyes" looking at the enemy. A kind of distracting maneuver that confuses the predator.
Peacocks have small tails - Facts About Peacocks
Oddly enough, but in fact, peacocks have a very small tail. The bewitching beauty with which peacocks fascinate others is a “fan” of long feathers, which is a rump.
The length of the tail itself is about 40-50 centimeters, but the tail feathers can reach more than one and a half meters. It is interesting that it is the males who have the color, while the “tail” of the females looks much more modest.
Peacocks can fly | their flight is not very long and high
Surprisingly, peacocks are able not only to gracefully walk on the ground, to the surprise of many, they are quite good at flying.
Their flight is not too long and high, however, under certain circumstances, they can take off and cover relatively decent distances, although they do this quite rarely.
Feeling the approach of danger, they easily fly up a tree, where they like to spend their leisure time.
centenarians
The peacock belongs to the order of chicken-like birds. However, despite the close relationship with chicken counterparts, the life expectancy of peacocks is about 20 years. While the life expectancy of chickens is, on average, 3-5 years.
Ability to communicate with each other via infrasound
One of the most unique facts is the ability to communicate with each other through infrasound. An infrasonic signal, inaccessible to the human ear, is emitted by peacock feathers with a certain movement.
When the male unfolds his tail, he periodically makes small fluctuations with it, accompanied by a slight rustling of feathers.
Canadian scientists have found that the frequency of infrasound emitted at such a moment is less than 20 Hz, the human ear cannot catch it.
peacock's voice | Facts About Peacocks
As for the voice of peacocks, it cannot be called melodic. It's pretty harsh and not very pleasant. It is often compared to a cat's howl, as if the cat's tail had been stepped on.
Peacocks were actively used in food until the 16th century.
Peacock meat is considered a delicacy because of its delicate taste. It is probably not for nothing that it has occupied a well-deserved place of honor on the royal tables for several centuries.
Until the 16th century, peacocks were actively used in cooking. It was only years later that it was supplanted by chicken and turkey meat.
Now the bird is bred more for decorative purposes. Growing them for food is simply unprofitable, because the taste of meat is not too different from the usual chicken, but the peacock itself and its maintenance come out much more expensive.
Today, only in one of the restaurants in London you can enjoy such a delicacy - to taste peacock meat.
handsome defender | Play the role of cobra hunter successfully
In India, peacocks are considered sacred birds. They are often kept on the territory of temples and near houses to catch snakes.
Despite their outward harmlessness, they successfully play the role of cobra hunters. Among other things, they also warn with a loud cry of approaching predators.
Keeping peacock feathers in the house is a bad omen
Many people cannot resist keeping at home such a beautiful decorative accessory as a bright peacock feather.
However, keeping peacock feathers at home is a bad omen. It is believed that the goddess Hera will bring misfortune to everyone who offends her sacred bird.
According to legend, after the death of the hundred-eyed giant Argus, Hera placed many of his eyes on the tails of peacocks.
Such a large number of "eyes" symbolized the huge starry sky, the mistress of which was the goddess Hera.
Worthy of a coat of arms
The city of Serpukhov, located in the Moscow region, proudly displays a peacock on its coat of arms. And all because in the 18th century the breeding of these outlandish, majestic birds on the territory of one of the monasteries was a feature of the city.
white peacock Blue eyes only enhance their beauty
Nature surprises with the presence of such a special beauty as a snow-white peacock. These birds are more familiar to the perception precisely for their brightness and variegated colors, but the white color gives them even more amazing appeal.
Many zab lunatic, classifying white birds as albinos. Blue eyes against the background of snow-white plumage only enhance their beauty.
In fact, the white color of these birds is recognized as one of the first discovered in the natural environment.
peacock loses unusually beautiful feathers
The peacock is not always so luxuriously beautiful. The beginning of autumn, namely September, serves as a molting season for them. During this period, the male loses most of his unusually beautiful feathers.
Firebird's prototype is a peacock
Many will be pretty surprised to learn that the prototype of the fiery Firebird from Russian folk tales is a peacock. It is the same Firebird pecking apples in the royal garden, in search of which the notorious Ivan Tsarevich went.
Perhaps the peacock holds the record for the number of mentions in books, fairy tales, myths and religious writings. All thanks to their majesty and truly fabulous beauty.