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Rumors about where peacocks live reached European shores much earlier than the birds themselves. Sailors admired the bright plumage and beauty of the birds. Active interest in them has not subsided to this day, although almost all zoos and nature reserves proudly display peacocks. So where do birds of paradise live in the wild?
The peacock is one of the most numerous large birds in the wild.
Peacock bird - origin, description
Peacocks descended from ancient flightless thecodont dinosaurs. Information about their evolution has not yet been found. The ancestors of these birds did not know how to fly, and they needed feathers to protect them from the cold. Thecodonts lived during the Jurassic period and that is almost all that is known about them.
Large and bright peacock tail
The first mentions of these birds were seen in the 4th millennium BC. The inhabitants of India are the very first people to domesticate this bird. Today the peacock is a symbol of the country.
Additional Information! Peacocks are great at hunting cobras. For this reason, people in India keep them near their homes.
Mentions of these birds are also found in ancient Greek mythology. They were called the favorite bird of Hera, the patroness of marriage. In Ancient Greece, males were considered a symbol of wealth in the home and power.
Peacocks are birds with bright blue or emerald colored feathers.
Characteristics of peacocks:
- body length - 130 cm;
- tail length - up to 1.6 m;
- weight - 5 kg;
- wings 60 cm long;
- crest on the head.
The tail is divided into two parts: the rump and the tail itself. Its total length is 1.4-1.6 m.
The color of the body of birds varies depending on the sex. Females have gray, brown feathers, while males have bright feathers with shades of different colors. The neck and head are colored blue. There are species that can combine different colors on the body: red and white wings, and the body is brown with gray spots. On the feathers of birds you can often see patterns in the form of “eyes”, consisting of green, blue and yellow shades.
Their head is small. At its top there is a crest, which matches the color of the birds. The long neck helps birds maintain beautiful posture.
Peacocks belong to large birds of the Pheasant family of the Galliformes order. Pheasants are distributed throughout the planet, except for its southern and northern parts. You can meet them in Sri Lanka and India. The birds' habitat is jungles, forests, near human settlements.
Kinds
The peacock bird has two Asian species - common (Pavo cristatus) and green (Pavo muticus Linnaeus).
The second one is different in size. It is much larger than the Indian one. There is also an African species that for some reason stands apart.
Differences between female and male
Description of the appearance of peacocks helps to distinguish a female from a male. The coloring of males is much brighter than that of females. The former have spikes that help them in battles with other members of the species.
The female and male are significantly different
For reference! Female peacocks are called peahens. They have modest colors and short feathers.
The female needs this color to incubate eggs and raise offspring. Variegated tones are difficult to spot in the wild, which means they will not attract the attention of predators.
Peahens are smaller in size than males. The length of their body reaches 1 m. At the ends of the feathers, the female has black spots, and at the bottom of the neck - brown-green or dark blue. Their crest is small, gray and brown.
Males are much larger and more showy than females. As a rule, they have bright and long feathers. Their main function is to attract women and intimidate rivals. The feathers are colored green, emerald, blue and gold.
Several differences can be noticed in the behavior of both sexes:
- during the mating season, males spread their tails and show off their wings;
- For the sake of the peahen, the males arrange fights for her attention;
- females are almost always calm, sometimes they can be aggressive towards other peahens;
- During the mating season, males make “meowing” sounds.
Important! Female peacocks raise their offspring independently; males do not take any part in this.
Habitats
The peacock genus includes a huge number of species, in which a person far from ornithology does not always recognize these representatives of the fauna. They differ significantly not only in color, but also in size. Among them there are snow-white specimens that cause special awe among tourists, and some are so small that they can be compared to a starling, and the smallest representatives even to a sparrow.
To live, beauties choose places with a mild and warm climate, as well as with plenty of food. Since birds prefer peace and quiet, they find all the conditions in forests and thickets, where they can easily hide from any predators. Contrary to popular belief, the long tail of males does not at all prevent them from quickly running away or flying between the branches, which shelter them from any dangers. On the contrary, he is very nimble, fast and agile.
Beautiful plumage is the reason that humans have become the main enemy of peacocks. However, people are interested not only in the decorative material from which various decorations are made, but also in game meat. Therefore, the places where representatives of these species live are located at the maximum distance from human settlements. However, when they notice a random passerby, they do not fly away, but they also do not dare to let uninvited guests get close to them.
How many feathers does a peacock have in its tail?
When the question arises, who is a peacock, the bird’s beautiful tail and colorful feathers immediately come to mind. The number of feathers of the bird is about 200. The main, small tail consists of 20 feathers.
The “eyes” on the tail are visible even when the bird waves it quickly. Scientists have discovered the reason for this phenomenon. The results showed that this is due to the connection of feathers with mini-hooks. They fit tightly to each other, which means they are less mobile and flexible.
The long tail of birds moves faster than the short one. During its movement, the male emits sound vibrations. A person will not be able to catch the tonality of such sounds, but peahens easily understand these signals.
The male's tail also performs a protective function. When it sees an enemy, the peacock spreads its tail. The bright color confuses the enemy and prevents him from approaching the bird.
Peacock feathers
Presentation on the surrounding world on the topic “Animals of hot countries. Peacocks" (1st grade)
Description of the presentation by individual slides:
He is a handsome man, a real star! He just sings so badly - It just takes you aback... Among the birds there is only one like him, Spreads his tail...
Peacocks are rightfully considered one of the most gorgeous and amazing birds on Earth. Peacocks are close relatives of chickens. They can be found all over the world. Many years ago, man tamed peacocks.
In nature, there are two main types of peacocks: ordinary and green (Indian). Green (Indian) peacock Common peacock
The beautiful feathers of peacocks grow when the birds are 3 years old. The length of one peacock feather can reach 2 meters.
The voice of peacocks cannot be called melodic. It's quite harsh and not very pleasant. It is often compared to a cat's scream, as if the cat's tail had been stepped on.
Peacocks are good at flying. Peacock in flight
Peacock is one of the constellations in the Southern Hemisphere.
The peacock holds the record for the number of mentions in books, fairy tales, myths and religious scriptures. All thanks to their majesty and truly fabulous beauty.
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Dimensions and weight of the strange bird
The body length of the peahen does not exceed 1 m. The head and neck are white, and the chest is brown. The weight of the birds is from 3 to 4.5 kg. The male's body length is about 1.7 m, feathers - 1.8 m.
Green peacocks are distinguished by their metallic tail. The beak of birds is 2-3 cm long. The length of the tail depends on living conditions, gender and age.
The female chooses a partner by assessing the color and length of his feathers. The more magnificent and bright the tail, the more likely it is that the peahen will choose just such a male.
Additional Information! Female peacocks do not like to hatch eggs; they place them under other birds. But when the offspring appear, the peahens carefully take care of the little peacocks, teach them how to survive and keep them warm in winter.
Structural features
Peacocks are very large birds: their size, including their tail, is up to 2.5 meters. Although it should be clarified that the bird’s body does not exceed one meter, and the tail is only 40-50 centimeters long. But the magnificent feathers located above the tail make up the main length of the bird; they reach a size of 160 centimeters.
The Indian peacock has a bright blue main plumage color on its head, neck and chest. The back of the bird is a beautiful green with iridescent color, and the underside is black. This coloring is especially important for attracting females because the peacock has a terrible voice, like a crow. But the magnificent tail feathers look gorgeous - long, bright, decorated with an ornament that looks like many eyes. Interestingly, they serve not only to attract females, but also to protect against predators, and modern science also knows that this is one of the ways of communication.
Varieties of peacocks
The appearance of these birds depends on what the peacock looks like. Individuals with a white color are most common.
White (albino)
People discovered albino peacocks in the 18th century. Their eyes are blue-blue. The bird is considered a symbol of grace and wealth. In some countries, white peacock feathers are a valuable interior decoration.
White peacock
Birds live in flocks, moving most of the time on their limbs rather than flying. They tolerate cold and wet weather well.
The homeland of white peacocks is India, but they are also common in Nepal, Thailand, and China. Birds prefer to live near mountains with large vegetation and agricultural lands of people.
Typically, birds are threatened by predators such as lions, leopards, and tigers. For people, the meat of these birds is considered a delicacy.
White birds can be seen in nurseries and zoos. In addition, they are bred at home. It is enough to purchase an aviary, provide the bird with comfortable conditions and good nutrition.
Black-shouldered
The Indian black-shouldered peacock differs from the representatives of its genus. This is an artificially bred species. Such birds are also called black-winged, varnished.
Black-shouldered peacock
A distinctive feature of the black-winged birds are the shoulders and wings of a blue-black color. Peahens of this breed are yellow and brown with spots.
More often, the black-shouldered peacock can be found in the eastern part of India. They love to live close to people, in comfortable conditions.
Attention! Selectors do not recommend crossing different breeds of peacocks on your own. There are books about the rules for breeding each species of this bird.
Congolese
The homeland of Congolese peacocks is Africa.
- Their head and neck are featherless and blue.
- The upper part of the body is green with violet and bronze oval spots.
- On the head there is a small crest consisting of erect feathers.
- The bird's tail is black with a greenish tint, and its beak is gray or blue.
Congolese peacock
The species is distributed in the tropics of Central Africa. Their anatomy has not yet been thoroughly studied, so the birds are listed in the Red Book.
Other colors
There are also green peacocks, which can be found in the southern parts of Asia: Indochina, Bangladesh, India, Thailand.
The length of their body reaches 3 m. The feathers are bright, and the head and neck are bright green. The area around the eyes and body are painted a rich blue color. The weight of the bird reaches 6 kg.
There are several subspecies of green peacocks: Javan, Indochinese. The first includes individuals with a golden-green scaly color. They live on the island of Java, Malaysia.
Indochinese birds are common in South-Eastern Asia. They are distinguished by the dark brown or dark green color of their necks and feathers. The color around the eyes is brighter than that of the common peacock.
Additional Information! In Africa, the mating season of peacocks occurs during the rainy season. For this reason, locals believe that Congolese peacocks can make rain.
Behavior in the wild
Despite the large tail, birds can move quickly, avoiding dense thickets. Wild birds eat almost the same as domestic representatives of the species.
In the absence of food on the ground, they easily find food inside it, feeding on worms. In the wild, birds often make calls similar to the long meow of a cat.
Their lifestyle depends on where peacocks live. For example, birds living near people are calm and even smaller in size than individuals living in the wild. These birds are shy and at any sign of fear they immediately try to run away.
Wild peacock
LIFESTYLE
Indian peacocks live in small flocks consisting of a male and several females. The birds live in hilly, forested regions. They spend their days on the ground, hiding in the shade of thickets.
With the onset of dusk, birds hide in the crowns of trees, where they spend the night. Indian peacocks, climbing into the branches of trees in the evening, emit unpleasant cries, reminiscent of a child's cry, which can be heard far throughout the surrounding area. This is a sociable and respected bird in its homeland, so here it is often found near human settlements. The bright plumage of the peacock in the jungle provides it with excellent camouflage.
The rhythm of the peacock's day is quite cyclical. Every evening he returns to rest, climbing the same tree, looking for food only in places familiar to him. The peacock, whose main enemies are tigers and leopards, notifies other animals with its cry of the approach of these predators.
Where do they live, in what countries?
Many textbooks tell where peacocks live. Most often people meet them in zoos, nature reserves, and national parks. Such birds adapt well to almost any weather conditions. But they best tolerate the humid climate of India, Nepal, Cambodia, China, and Australia.
Different types of birds live in different countries. Indian representatives of the species prefer the tropical climate of southern Asia. The birds have beautiful feathers, and their meat is highly prized by gourmets. In India, these birds are considered sacred animals; hunting them is prohibited in the country.
Javan peacocks can be found in Vietnam, Thailand, and China. They settle along rivers and swampy areas.
African peacocks are the most numerous species of all birds inhabiting Africa. You can meet them in dense and humid forests along the Congo River at an altitude of 1.5 thousand meters.
Nutrition
Brought to Europe, they were initially simply kept in cages, but with the development of zoos, other questions arose. How to tell people about what kind of bird a peacock is? Where does he live? What does it eat? The answer required learning more about their natural habitat. Interestingly, upon arriving in India, peacocks were found at altitudes of up to 2000 meters above sea level. Their favorite places were thickets of bushes located near villages and cultivated fields. This spoke about the way they fed: they feasted on grain in nearby fields.
They also ate berry bushes growing nearby. The bird does not hesitate to eat small rodents, as well as small snakes. The only condition for peacocks to live nearby is the presence of a nearby pond and separate tall trees. India is replete with such places and this is the best place for birds. In addition, Indians believe in the holiness of this bird and allow it to feed from their fields. The interesting thing is that where the peacock bird lives, there are fewer snakes and this benefits the people living nearby.
What do peacocks eat?
Many owners of these birds wonder what do peacocks eat? Birds can eat plants, insects, reptiles, as well as snakes and rodents. Before getting a pet feathered animal, you need to study what peacocks eat.
Their main food is shoots of grain crops and fruits. Birds that live near people often feed in fields with newly planted crops. For this reason, they are considered pests.
Domestic specimens are good at scaring away poisonous snakes and can catch frogs and harmful insects.
Additional Information! In the East, it is believed that the meat of this bird can cure eye diseases, improve immunity and tone the body.
Reproduction when chicks are hatched
Males choose up to 5 pahs for breeding. During the mating season, they fluff up their tails, attracting as many females as possible.
After birds of different sexes have chosen each other, the breeding season begins, which lasts from April to September.
The female then lays eggs. She does about 3 hairstyles a year. The female incubates the eggs for a month, after which the first chicks appear. Their number can reach 10. Already on the third day, the chicks can walk, feed and drink water independently.
Peahen with babies
Egg incubation
Female peacocks are too lazy to hatch their offspring on their own. Although in those rare cases when they do this, the relationship between the female and the chicks can cause a wave of tenderness in vulnerable hearts. In any case, it is recommended to breed offspring either under any other farm bird (turkey, chicken, goose) that is in the yard, or in an incubator. The latter can be anything, the main thing is that the eggs fit into the cells. The dimensions of peacock eggs are approximately 8.5x6 cm.
During incubation, you need to adhere to a certain regime of humidity, temperature and turning. Table 5 lists all necessary incubation parameters.
After hatching, the peacock chicks are either left to dry in the incubator or transferred to a heated box at a temperature of 34-35°C. At normal temperatures, all the chicks will scatter evenly throughout the box.
How long do peacocks live in the wild?
These birds live differently in the wild and outside the wild. The lifespan of domesticated individuals is 40 years, and that of birds living in the wild is 20 years. This fact is due to the fact that birds living in natural conditions are at constant risk from predators.
The number of individuals is approximately 100,000 throughout the world. To increase the life expectancy of poultry, it is recommended to provide them with peace of mind, a large aviary and high-quality food. The birds do not get along well with each other, so they should not be placed in the same enclosure. Its height should be 3-5 m.
Individuals under the age of two years are suitable for breeding. Before attempting to mate peacocks, you must carefully study the rules for breeding birds and not make a mistake with the color of the individuals.
Caring for chicks
Chicks need food on the first day. They follow a similar scheme as when breeding chickens and pheasants - ground boiled eggs, cottage cheese. After 7 days, two bowls are placed in the cage with the chicks - in one they add mealworms and fresh herbs, minced meat, in the other - sour milk, mixed feed of the PK-2 line with the addition of fish oil. Up to two months, grain is gradually poured into the feeders, then the bird is transferred to a regular diet.
Don't forget to install drinking bowls in the cages. The length of drinking bowls for chicks up to 21 days should be at least 7 cm.
