Peacock, the National Bird of India

The national bird of India is Pavo cristatus, commonly known as the Indian Peacock or the Indian Peafowl. The male birds (peacocks) are more brightly coloured and beautiful than the females (peahens).

The peacock has enjoyed a place of pride in India. It is frequently depicted in literature, mythology, art and culture, music, folklore and traditions. They are prominent in temple art and architecture, textile designs, fashion and more. Their feathers are used in many rituals.

Pavo cristatus is a large-sized bird. Its crest, breast and neck are in metallic blue colour, and has bronze-green feathers on its back. The tail is dark brown, and the male has a long ‘train’, made of around 200 elongated upper tail coverts. The train feathers have multicolor eyespots. The peahen, slightly smaller in size, is not as attractive as the male and does not have the ‘train’.

The peacock raises its train feathers spreading like a fan and quivers it, performing ‘the peacock dance’ during courtship. The vibrant iridescent feather colours are not due to pigments, but resulting from optical interference reflections of nanostructures of the fiber-like components of feathers. Occasionally, white peafowl may be seen; some may be albinos and the others may be lacking colour pigments.

They are found in forests and even in villages and cities. They mainly feed on nuts, fruits, seeds, vegetables, and also prey on insects, lizards, rodents, and small snakes. Their lifespan is estimated to be between 15 and 23 years.

They have loud distinctive calls sounding ‘pia-ow’ or ‘may-awe’, more frequently before Monsoon rains. In the wild, their calls may indicate the presence of predators such as leopards and tigers.