Difference between revisions of "Peafowl" - New World Encyclopedia
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These two species are spectacularly plumaged birds and are the largest members of the Phasianidae. Males and females of both species have a crest atop the head. The males of both species have highly elongated and elaborated "trains" or "tails," which are decorated with metallic [[ocellus|ocelli]]. While commonly called tails, these are actually the uppertail [[covert]] feathers, while the peacock's tail is much shorter and stiff and helps to prop up the train during display. Covert feathers, as the name implies, cover other feathers, with the uppertail coverts covering above the base of the tail feathers. | These two species are spectacularly plumaged birds and are the largest members of the Phasianidae. Males and females of both species have a crest atop the head. The males of both species have highly elongated and elaborated "trains" or "tails," which are decorated with metallic [[ocellus|ocelli]]. While commonly called tails, these are actually the uppertail [[covert]] feathers, while the peacock's tail is much shorter and stiff and helps to prop up the train during display. Covert feathers, as the name implies, cover other feathers, with the uppertail coverts covering above the base of the tail feathers. | ||
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| + | The peafowl are forest birds. They are terrestrial feeders but roost in trees. During mating season they will often emit a very loud high pitched cry. | ||
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| + | Peafowl are omnivorous and eat ticks, termites, ants, locusts, mice, plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, scorpions, and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians. | ||
===Plumage=== | ===Plumage=== | ||
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Such interference-based ''structural color'' is especially important in producing the peacock's [[iridescent]] hues (which shimmer and change with viewing angle), since interference effects depend upon the angle of light, unlike chemical pigments. | Such interference-based ''structural color'' is especially important in producing the peacock's [[iridescent]] hues (which shimmer and change with viewing angle), since interference effects depend upon the angle of light, unlike chemical pigments. | ||
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[[Image:Peacock rear - melbourne zoo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A rear view of an Indian Blue Peacock's tail feathers]] | [[Image:Peacock rear - melbourne zoo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A rear view of an Indian Blue Peacock's tail feathers]] | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | Asiatic peafowl | + | Asiatic peafowl occupy a similar niche as the [[Geococcyx|roadrunner]]s, [[Secretary Bird]], and [[seriema]]s. All of these birds hunt for small animals including [[arthropod]]s on the ground and tall grass and [[minnow]]s in shallow streams. |
| − | Because of human encroachment into their natural territories, peafowl and humans have come into increasing contact. Because of their natural beauty some are reluctant to classify the birds as pests | + | Because of human encroachment into their natural territories, peafowl and humans have come into increasing contact. Because of their natural beauty some are reluctant to classify the birds as pests; however, their presence can be disturbing, especially given their tendency to eat indiscriminately of garden boundaries and the male's powerful vocal crow (louder than a rooster's crow). |
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Peafowl have left captivity and developed permanent, free-roaming populations in several parts of the world including [[Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida]] and [[Arcadia, California]]. | Peafowl have left captivity and developed permanent, free-roaming populations in several parts of the world including [[Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida]] and [[Arcadia, California]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Species== |
[[Image:Green Peafowl Male.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Green Peafowl]] | [[Image:Green Peafowl Male.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Green Peafowl]] | ||
| − | The Indian | + | The Indian peafowl is [[monotypic]], while the green peafowl has three described subspecies, ''P. muticus spicifer'', ''P. m. imperator'', and the nominate ''P. m. muticus'' (Madge and McGowan 2002). The two species are largely [[allopatric]] but will hybridize in captivity. |
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===Indian peafowl=== | ===Indian peafowl=== | ||
| − | The '''Indian Peafowl''', ''Pavo cristatus'', also known as the | + | The '''Indian Peafowl''', ''Pavo cristatus'', also known as the common peafowl or the blue peafowl, is a resident breeder in the [[Indian subcontinent]] and has been introduced into many parts of the world and feral populations exist in many introduced regions. The peacock is the largest Asian [[galliform]]. The species is found in dry semi-desert grasslands, scrub and deciduous forests. It forages and nests on the ground but roosts on top of trees. It eats seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles. |
[[Image:Indian Peahens I IMG 9647.jpg|thumb|left|Indian Peahen with Immatures at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].]] | [[Image:Indian Peahens I IMG 9647.jpg|thumb|left|Indian Peahen with Immatures at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].]] | ||
[[Image:Lightmatter peacock tailfeathers closeup.jpg|thumb|Peacock "tail feathers" are really upper tail coverts.]] | [[Image:Lightmatter peacock tailfeathers closeup.jpg|thumb|Peacock "tail feathers" are really upper tail coverts.]] | ||
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Females are about 86 cm (34 in) long and weigh 2.75-4 kg (6-8.8 lbs), while males average at about 2.12 m (7.3 ft) in full breeding plumage (107 cm/42 in when not) and weigh 4-6 kg (8.8-13.2 lbs). The male is called a ''peacock'', the female a ''peahen''. The Indian Peacock has iridescent blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts on its back are elongated and ornate with an eye at the end of each feather. These are the Peacock's display feathers. The female plumage is a mixture of dull green, grey and [[iridescent]] blue, with the greenish-grey predominating. In the breeding season, females stand apart by lacking the long 'tail feathers' also known as ''train'', and in the non-breeding season they can be distinguished from males by the green colour of the neck as opposed to the blue on the males. | Females are about 86 cm (34 in) long and weigh 2.75-4 kg (6-8.8 lbs), while males average at about 2.12 m (7.3 ft) in full breeding plumage (107 cm/42 in when not) and weigh 4-6 kg (8.8-13.2 lbs). The male is called a ''peacock'', the female a ''peahen''. The Indian Peacock has iridescent blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts on its back are elongated and ornate with an eye at the end of each feather. These are the Peacock's display feathers. The female plumage is a mixture of dull green, grey and [[iridescent]] blue, with the greenish-grey predominating. In the breeding season, females stand apart by lacking the long 'tail feathers' also known as ''train'', and in the non-breeding season they can be distinguished from males by the green colour of the neck as opposed to the blue on the males. | ||
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| + | <ref>Madge, S. and P. McGowan (2002) Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse ISBN 0-7136-3966-0</ref> | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 23:49, 28 October 2008
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 An Indian Blue Peacock (rear) courts a peahen (front)
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Pavo cristatus |
Peafowl is the common name for members of two species of large birds of the pheasant family Phasianidae, Pavo cristatus (Indian peafowl) and Pavo muticus (green peafowl), characterized by crested heads, long legs, heavy wings, and resplendent blue or green plumage, as well as brilliant, long back feathers (upper tail coverts) with iridescent, eyelike spots that can be erected and fanned out. While technically the male is a peacock and the female a peahen, the term peacock often is used for the both the males and the females or the female may be referred to as a "female peacock." The term peafowl also is used for another member of the family in another genus, the African Congo peafowl, Afropavo congensis, but this article will be limited to the two members of the Pavo genus.
Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail, which it displays as part of courtship.
Overview and description
Peafowl are members of the Galliformes family Phasianidae, which also includes the pheasants, quail, partridges, and junglefowl. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally are plump, with broad relatively short wings. Many have a spur on their legs. Males of the larger species often are brightly colored.
The two species known as peafowl are:
- Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus (Asiatic)
- Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus (Asiatic)
The Indian peafowl is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India. The green peafowl breeds from Burma east to Java. The IUCN lists the green peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat.
These two species are spectacularly plumaged birds and are the largest members of the Phasianidae. Males and females of both species have a crest atop the head. The males of both species have highly elongated and elaborated "trains" or "tails," which are decorated with metallic ocelli. While commonly called tails, these are actually the uppertail covert feathers, while the peacock's tail is much shorter and stiff and helps to prop up the train during display. Covert feathers, as the name implies, cover other feathers, with the uppertail coverts covering above the base of the tail feathers.
The peafowl are forest birds. They are terrestrial feeders but roost in trees. During mating season they will often emit a very loud high pitched cry.
Peafowl are omnivorous and eat ticks, termites, ants, locusts, mice, plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, scorpions, and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians.
Plumage
The male (peacock) Indian peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green colored plumage. The so-called "tail" of the peacock, also termed the "train," consists of highly elongated upper tail coverts. The train feathers have a series of eyes that are best seen when the train is fanned. The actual tail feathers are short and gray-colored and can be seen from behind when a peacock's train is fanned in a courtship display. During the molting season, the males shed their stunning train feathers and reveal the unassuming gray-colored tail that is normally hidden from view beneath the train.
The female (peahen) Indian Peafowl has a mixture of dull green, brown, and gray in her plumage. She lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male but has a crest. The female can also display her plumage to ward off female competition or danger to her young.
The green peafowl is very different in appearance to the Indian peafowl. The male has green and gold plumage and has an erect crest. The wings are black with a sheen of blue. Unlike the Indian peafowl, the green peahen is very similar to the male, only having shorter upper tail coverts and slightly less iridescent in some regions. Like other peafowl, it is very difficult to distinguish a juvenile male from an adult female. Moreover, the sexes of the various green peafowl species are almost impossible to tell apart in the field during the months when the male has no train.
Many of the brilliant colors of the peacock plumage are due to an optical interference phenomenon (Bragg reflection) based on (nearly) periodic nanostructures found in the barbules (fiber-like components) of the feathers.
Different colors correspond to different length scales of the periodic structures. For brown feathers, a mixture of red and blue is required: one color is created by the periodic structure, and the other is a created by a Fabry-Perot interference peak from reflections off the outermost and innermost boundaries of the periodic structure.
Such interference-based structural color is especially important in producing the peacock's iridescent hues (which shimmer and change with viewing angle), since interference effects depend upon the angle of light, unlike chemical pigments.
Habitat
Asiatic peafowl occupy a similar niche as the roadrunners, Secretary Bird, and seriemas. All of these birds hunt for small animals including arthropods on the ground and tall grass and minnows in shallow streams.
Because of human encroachment into their natural territories, peafowl and humans have come into increasing contact. Because of their natural beauty some are reluctant to classify the birds as pests; however, their presence can be disturbing, especially given their tendency to eat indiscriminately of garden boundaries and the male's powerful vocal crow (louder than a rooster's crow).
Peafowl have left captivity and developed permanent, free-roaming populations in several parts of the world including Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida and Arcadia, California.
Species
The Indian peafowl is monotypic, while the green peafowl has three described subspecies, P. muticus spicifer, P. m. imperator, and the nominate P. m. muticus (Madge and McGowan 2002). The two species are largely allopatric but will hybridize in captivity.
Indian peafowl
The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, also known as the common peafowl or the blue peafowl, is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced into many parts of the world and feral populations exist in many introduced regions. The peacock is the largest Asian galliform. The species is found in dry semi-desert grasslands, scrub and deciduous forests. It forages and nests on the ground but roosts on top of trees. It eats seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles.
Females are about 86 cm (34 in) long and weigh 2.75-4 kg (6-8.8 lbs), while males average at about 2.12 m (7.3 ft) in full breeding plumage (107 cm/42 in when not) and weigh 4-6 kg (8.8-13.2 lbs). The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen. The Indian Peacock has iridescent blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts on its back are elongated and ornate with an eye at the end of each feather. These are the Peacock's display feathers. The female plumage is a mixture of dull green, grey and iridescent blue, with the greenish-grey predominating. In the breeding season, females stand apart by lacking the long 'tail feathers' also known as train, and in the non-breeding season they can be distinguished from males by the green colour of the neck as opposed to the blue on the males.
Green peafowl
The Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus is a large member of the Galliformes order that is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The sexes of Green Peafowl, or Dragonbirds as they are known in their native haunts, are quite similar in appearance, especially in the field. During most of the year, when the males have no visible trains, it is quite difficult to distinguish the sexes. Bot sexes carry tall pointed crests and are long legged and heavy winged and long tailed in silhouette. Seen in the distance, they are generally dark coloured birds with pale vermillion or buff coloured primaries which are quite visible in in their peculiar flight which has been described as a true flapping flight (Baker and Beebe) with little gliding that one associates with Gallinates. Some ecological species of Green Peafowl are distinctly bluer in appearance whilst others are decidedly bronze and purple (Yunnan), or dull gold and emerald (Javanese), bright citrus green and cerulean blue (Annametic) or blackish grey and violet blue with purple trains (spicifer) The wings of each respective geographic form are quite distinctive and like Turacoas,and Lophura Pheasants their reticulate phylogenetic pathways are complex and best understood as ecological. COnsequently, the phenotypey of different populations that are only distantly related to one another on a genetic level may converge, much as we have seen in the mirror phenotypes of certain dark kalijs and their altitudinal equivalents amongst the black silver pheasants. For example, Dragonbirds from Southern Vietnam are dull and greyish green and share a very similar habitat with phenotypically similar birds endemic to Southern Western Myanmar and Northern Malaysia.
Gallery
Indian Peafowl
An Indian Blue Peacock's head
Shot of a white peacock
Indian Blue Peacock, male
An Indian Blue Peahen showing her plumage
- 040411.JPG
Closeup of an Indian Blue Peacock's head
- Dscn08507wr.jpg
The Black-Shouldered Peacock was once thought to be a distinct subspecies, but is now considered a color mutation
- White peacock.jpg
A white peacock showing off his plumage
The head of a male Indian Blue Peacock
- 178279581 2b22d77351.jpg
Male Indian Blue Peacock at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Indian Blue Peacocks as illustrated in the First Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
by Charles d'Orbigney (1806–1876)
- Peacock-rtisbute-steven-viemeister-1.jpg
A white peacock domesticated in Mexico.
Peacock seen in San Francisco, California
Green Peafowl
Male
Female
Close-up of a female's head
- Frankyboy Pavo muticus.JPG
Pavo muticus muticus
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Kimball, Rebecca T., Edward L. Braun, and J. David Ligon (1997). Resolution of the Phylogenetic Position of the Congo Peafowl, Afropavo congensis: A Biogeographic and Evolutionary Enigma. Proceedings: Biological Sciences, vol. 264 (1387), pp. 1517-1523
- van Balen, S., Prawiradilaga, D. M. and Indrawan, M. (1995) The distribution and status of Green Peafowl in Java. Biol. Conserv. 71: 289-297.
External links
- Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource — World Birds Taxonomic List as of 2006-09-26
- Peafowl Varieties Database
- The Peacock Pages: All About Peacocks!, An article by Lisa Johnson from the Game Bird and Conservationists' Gazette — Aspects of the cultural role of peafowl and their place in aviculture.
- United Peafowl Association Knowledge Base
- "Behavioural Ecologists Elucidated How Peahens Choose Their Mates, And Why", an article at ScienceDaily.com
- Peafowl videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Peacock — Etymology of the word
- Video of a peacock showing of his plumage
Credits
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- ↑ Madge, S. and P. McGowan (2002) Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse ISBN 0-7136-3966-0
