The Indian National Bird is the Peafowl or Peacock (Pavo cristatus) so that seems like a suitable bird to start my Indian posts with. Technically the pictures in this post are only of Peacocks - which is the specific name for mane Peafowl. However, and confusingly, the term Peacock is also commonly used for both males and females of the species. Technically speaking, again (!), females are known as Peahens.
Such issues with naming take nothing away from the beauty of this bird which was surprising common in the lowland parts of my Indian adventure. It's was a bit of a shock to see them charging across freeways and feeding on rubbish tips when my first experiences of them saw them wandering around stately homes and fancy gardens in the UK!
There have been many theories put forward to explain the makes extravagant tail, with some form of sexual selection process being generally favoured. However, no definitive answer seems to be forth coming at present.
I took a surprisingly small number of picture of these flamboyant birds during the trip, and to be honest most of the birds we saw were roosting in trees when we were both still half asleep!
As ever, to join in with WBW click the link below. Cheers - SM
A very beautiful bird. Here I only see these birds in zoos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of this colourful bird.
ReplyDeleteThank you, SM. Hawaiian Royal princess Kailuani kept peafowl at her home here in Waikiki. A statue of her features one of the birds. They are loud aren't they! Thank you for sharing. I look forward to our get-together every week aloha
ReplyDeletePeafowl are always a joy to watch, especially in flight. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThey never fail to impress - even the peahens, with their subtler but still magnificent plumage... YAM xx