Peacocks belong to the chicken family, as they are descended from wild chickens and pheasants. Peacocks are considered the most amazing birds on earth. Their size is much larger than that of other birds from this family. Males and females differ from each other in the color of feathers, the shape of the tail.
The female peacock is painted in a uniform grayish-brown color. Her head is crowned with a brown tuft, matching the plumage. The male lives surrounded by 3-5 females. At two or three years old, he is already able to participate in reproduction. From April to September, the laying of eggs by the female takes place. At one time, she lays four to ten eggs on the ground.
If a female peacock is in captivity, then she breeds up to three times a season. Eggs develop within twenty-eight days. If a male peacock is born, then his outfit, like that of a female, is of unremarkable grayish colors. Closer to the age of three, he has feathers topped with a colorful "eye".
The neck of the female is greenish, the belly is white. Males are brightly colored all over the body in order to seek the location of the female. She, in turn, is called upon to breed, incubate eggs, so her bright plumage would only interfere with her to perform this function, and predators would quickly find and destroy her and future offspring in the thickets. After the birth of the babies, the female takes care of them for a long time.
In size, females are smaller than peacocks. These birds feed on grain. To keep peacocks in the zoo, you need to include meat and mineral feed in their diet. Birds are cautious about new dishes - they look closely, think, and only then eat. In winter, animals should have enhanced nutrition. Once the female has laid the eggs, they are usually collected. The best babysitters for peacocks are turkeys and chickens. But the peacocks themselves are able to take care of their offspring.
During the mating season, males try to show themselves in all their glory - they are aggressive, therefore they are kept in enclosures, separately from other individuals. Nesting houses are being built for females, so that it would be easier for them to incubate eggs not in front of zoo visitors. Peacocks are very capricious birds in terms of arranging their enclosure, so they love comfort and space.
Peacock ripens (that's what the female peacock is called!) To the conclusion of offspring only in the second year of life. If there is a desire to grow peacocks on your own, you need to consider all the nuances. Peacocks have a hard time delivering to their destination. They are very attached to the person who feeds them, puts things in order in the aviary. The suburban area, subject to regular walking, the birds will never leave. In the cold season, they need to build shelters from wind, rain, snow and other bad weather.
Wild peacocks live only in India and Sri Lanka. Settle in forests, thickets of shrubs. These birds do not like thick wilds or open areas earth. Despite the magnificent tail, the male easily walks between the branches of the bush. When he wants to attract the attention of a peacock - that's another name for a female peacock - spreads his tail and trembles with it. If the female is interested, then the "groom" turns away and waits until she gives in to him.
As a result of research by zoologists, it was found that peahens look a little at the fluffy tail of a peacock. Their gaze rests longer on its base. Therefore, science is still incomprehensible - why then does the peacock have its famous tail?
Peacock considered the most beautiful bird in the world, and the peacock's tail is of extraordinary beauty. Common peacock ( pavocristatus), or the Indian peacock, is the most numerous species of peacocks, belongs to the order of galliformes, the pheasant family, and the genus peacocks.
Although Indian peacocks are members of the order Galliformes, this species has been shown to be genetically closer to the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) than to the chicken (Gallus gallus).
Description of the peacock and photos
Ordinary peacocks have a long graceful neck and a small head with a small tuft: the males have a blue tuft, and the females have a brown one, the color of plumage. The voice of the peacock is sharp and not very pleasant. The body length of a male peacock reaches 100-125 cm, the length of the tail is 40-50 cm, while the length of the covering feathers of the uppertail is 120-160 cm. The weight of the male peacock is 4 - 4.25 kg. The plumage of this beautiful bird contains a wide variety of colors: the back is green, the head, part of the chest and neck are blue, the bottom of the body is black. The female Indian peacock is smaller and has a more modest, brown color.
peacock tail
A riot of plumage colors and a luxurious fan-shaped eyed tail created a peacock image the most beautiful bird in the world. Interestingly, only males can boast of such beautiful tails, females of this species were less fortunate. Their plumage is not fragrant with colors, but consists only of grayish-brown tones. Ornithologists call this sexual dimorphism. It turns out that what we call a peacock's tail is actually nothing more than the feathers of the rump. It's all about the height and location of the pen. Shorter feathers cover longer ones, reaching one and a half meters in length. The feather consists of rare thread-like fibers with a bright "eye" at the end.
Peacock is the most beautiful bird in the world
Peacocks are the most beautiful and largest birds in the world, this is the reason for the interest of man in this species. As an exotic miracle, they were kept in Roman parks, first for aesthetic purposes, and then they were caught and served at the table during magnificent feasts. Peacock meat was seasoned with various spices, it was considered one of the most delicious meat dishes. Nowadays, peacocks are kept exclusively as ornamental birds.
Peacocks can fly
With impending danger, an ordinary peacock can take off, but the flight will not be long and high: only a few meters ahead.
Peacock species
The Indian peacock is not divided into species, but has a huge range of color variations (mutations). The following colors of peacocks are distinguished:
- Wild
- White
- Black-shouldered (black-winged, lacquered)
- Motley
- dark mottled
- Cameo, or silvery dun
- Cameo black-shouldered or oatmeal
- white peephole
- Carbonic
- Lavender
- Bronze Buford
- Purple
- Opal
- Peach
- silver mottled
- Midnight
- yellowish green
The United Peacock Breeding Association officially distinguishes only 10 primary colors (wild, white, cameo, charcoal, purple, bronze Buford, peach, opal, midnight yellowish green), 5 secondary colors (wild - striped wing, black-shouldered, motley, white eye , silver motley), as well as 20 variations of basic colors and 185 varieties of the common peacock, which appear as a result of mixing basic colors and their variations.
Where do peacocks live?
The common (Indian) peacock lives in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. AT wild nature peacocks try to avoid open areas, they settle in the jungle or forests, near villages and cultivated lands, live in dense bush and on the banks of rivers. Having a long tail, a peacock bird can move quickly enough even in thickets.
What does a peacock eat?
In food, these birds are picky. The peacock feeds mainly on grains, plant shoots, fruits, berries, insects, often earning its livelihood in the fields of farmers. Sometimes they even prey on small snakes and rodents.
Reproduction of the common peacock
During the mating season, the common peacock fights because of the female she likes, but this does not happen as often as with wild roosters. If a peacock wants to get the attention of a female, he doesn't have to fight other males to prove his superiority. It is enough for him to demonstrate his bright plumage.
Being polygamous birds, peacocks live groups of 3-5 birds, including all females and only one male. Birds reach sexual maturity at the age of 2-3 years. The clutch contains 4-7 eggs, which the females lay in nests located on the ground. The eggs hatch for an average of 28 days, after which the chicks are born, covered with a gray fluff.
By the way, Indian peacock males have the same brown color as the female, up to 1.5 years. And only after this time their plumage changes color. In total, peacocks live for about 20 years.
Peacocks in India
Currently, peacocks are domesticated in India. However, it is worth noting that in captivity they do not breed well, and their clutch consists of only 2-3 eggs. Also, peacocks do not get along well with other birds, but they are quite hardy, tolerate cold well. According to the laws of India, hunting for peacocks is prohibited, but this does not stop poachers in the least. Peacocks are caught not only for the sake of beautiful feathers, from which various decorations are made, but also for the sake of meat. Peacock meat is rarely sold in its pure form, most often it is mixed with chicken or turkey, they taste very similar.
There are a lot of beautiful birds in the world, but still the peacock is deservedly considered the most beautiful bird in the world, and it is peacock tail allows the bird to catch admiring glances.
Peacocks are considered the most amazing birds on earth. It is all the more strange that they are close relatives of ordinary chickens, which do not have the skillful plumage and chic beauty inherent in a peacock. Although peacocks are descended from wild pheasants and chickens, they are much larger than members of their squad.
Peacock species
The variety of color and structure of peacocks suggests that these birds have many types. However, this is not at all the case. The genus Peacocks has only two species:
- ordinary or blue;
- green or Javanese.
These two species have significant differences not only in appearance but also in reproduction.
Regular or blue
This is a very beautiful bird, having a forechest, neck and head of a purple-blue color with a green or golden tint. Their back is green with a metallic sheen, brown spots, blue strokes and black-edged feathers. The tail of the peacocks of this genus is brown, the uppertail feathers are green, having rounded spots with a black spot in the center. The legs are bluish-gray, the beak is pink.
The length of the male is from one hundred and eighty to two hundred and thirty centimeters. Its tail can reach fifty centimeters long, and the tail plume is about one and a half meters.
Female This species of peacock has an earthy-brown upper body with a wavy pattern, a green, shiny chest, upper back and lower neck. Her throat and sides of her head are white, and her eyes have a stripe. On the head of the female is a brown crest with a green tint.
The length of the female is from ninety centimeters to one meter. Her tail is about thirty-seven centimeters.
Two subspecies of the common peacock are common on the island Sri Lanka and in India. The black-winged peacock (one of the subspecies) has wings with a bluish sheen and black shiny shoulders. The female of this peacock has a lighter color, her neck and back are covered with yellowish and brown stains.
Green or Javanese
Birds of this species live in Southeast Asia. Unlike the common peacock, the green peacock is much larger, has a brighter color, plumage with a metallic sheen, a longer neck, legs and a crest on the head. The tail of a bird of this species is flat (in most pheasants it is roof-shaped).
The body length of the male can reach two and a half meters, and the tail feathers reach one and a half meters in length. The color of the bird's feathers is bright green, with a metallic sheen. There are yellow and reddish spots on his chest. On the head of the bird there is a small crest of completely lowered feathers.
Female peacock or peahen
Female peacocks are called Peacocks. They are somewhat smaller than males and have a uniform color of feathers and crest on the head.
Many believe that the peacock (lat. Pavo Linnaeus) is a truly special bird. However, this is not quite true. The results of research by zoologists have shown that the peacock has a lot in common with an ordinary chicken and belongs to the chicken order! The magnificent "tail" of the peacock is actually the feathers of the rump, while the tail itself consists of nondescript gray feathers.
These exotic birds are widespread in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and some other countries. They prefer to stay in the jungle at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. Like the usual domestic chicken, the peacock is a ground bird and runs very well and makes its way through dense thickets.
At real peacocks(Pavo) the upper tail coverts are very strongly developed, which the male spreads in the form of a fan-shaped plume during displaying. The head of these birds is small, the neck is long. The male and female differ in plumage color and length of uppertail coverts. The sixth primary feather is longer than the others.
Common, or blue, peacock (Pavocristatus) very handsome. Its head, neck and forechest are purplish-blue with a golden or green tint. The back is green with a metallic sheen, blue strokes, brown spots and black feather edging; the loin and wing coverts are light rusty in color with black glossy transverse strokes, the tail is brown. The underside is black with grey-brown markings. The uppertail feathers are green with a bronze sheen and variegated rounded “ocellated” spots with a black spot in the center. Beak Pink colour, legs bluish-gray. The length of the male is 180-230 cm, the tail is 40-50 cm and the tail train is 140-160 cm.
The female has a strip near the eyes, the sides of the head and throat are white, the bottom of the neck, the upper back and chest are shiny, green, the rest of the upper body is earthy-brown with a light wavy pattern. On the head is a crest of brown feathers with a green sheen. The length of the female is 90-100, the tail is 32-37 cm. The common peacock (2 subspecies) is widespread in India and on the island of Sri Lanka. Subspecies black-winged peacock (Pavomuticus nigripennis) differs from the ordinary one in black shiny shoulders and wings with a bluish tint, and the female - in a lighter color of plumage; her back and neck are covered with brown and yellowish stains.
Or, here's an option:
Javanese peacock. Peacocks (Pavo Linnaeus, 1758) - a genus of large birds from the pheasant subfamily (lat. Phasianinae), order of galliformes (lat. Galliformes), other Russian names - blue-winged peacock, green peacock - one of two species of Asian peacocks that lives in the South-East Asia.
Javanese peacock. Peacocks (Pavo Linnaeus, 1758) - a genus of large birds from the pheasant subfamily (lat. Phasianinae), order of galliformes (lat. Galliformes), other Russian names - blue-winged peacock, green peacock - one of two species of Asian peacocks that lives in the South-East Asia.
Unlike the common peacock, the Javanese peacock is much larger and brighter in color, has metallic plumage and longer legs, neck and crest on the head. The elongated tail of peacocks is flat, while most pheasants are roof-shaped.
Thanks to the lush, fan-shaped eyed "tail", the peacock is known as the most beautiful bird among the galliformes.
A characteristic feature of the male peacock is the strong development of the upper tail coverts, usually mixed in society with the tail feathers or tail in the proper sense of the word.
There are two Asian species of peacocks, common and Javanese palin.
Although the ranges of the two Asian species (P. cristatus and P. muticus) do not overlap, hybrids between them often occur in captivity and are called Spalding - named after Keith Spalding, the first to cross cristatus and muticus . The offspring from these crosses are completely fertile.
Common, or Indian, or crested, peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacocks. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). Domesticated by man.
Javanese peacock, or gigantic, the peacock is the largest in the joy of chicken. In appearance, it resembles an ordinary peacock, but larger than it, in addition, it also differs in that its neck and chest are painted in greenish colors, and the crest on its head does not fan out - it consists of feathers pressed against each other and forming a dense high beam. The plume is similar to that of common peacocks. The females of these two species are very similar.
Javanese peacock lives in Southeast Asia, from Thailand and the Malay Peninsula to Java.
Peacocks raised in captivity become completely tame. They are kept by some Vietnamese bird lovers at home in the courtyard. Unlike the common peacock, the Javan peacock is more aggressive towards its close and distant relatives, so males have to be kept in separate rooms for most of the year.
Females get along well with other pheasant birds. Due to the high aggressiveness of males, breeding of this species in captivity also becomes problematic. Protecting females, males sometimes jump on people, and you have to be careful with them, as they sometimes inflict injuries with their sharp spurs. The male with clipped wings "owns" a not so vast territory, but even with this "limitation" they make jumps of more than 1.8 m in height. Only large gardens or parks are really suitable for keeping these birds.
During the mating season, birds are placed in spacious enclosures with different shelters for females. The clutch is usually six eggs, the duration of incubation is 28 days. Young peacocks develop slowly and move on to an independent life at the age of at least eight weeks.
Male length 180-300 cm, wings 46-54 cm, tail 40-47 cm, train 140-160 cm. It weighs up to 5 kg.
The head and upper part of the neck are brownish-green. The crest consists of feathers with wider webs. The ocular region is bluish-gray in color.
The feathers of the lower part of the neck are green with golden-green borders and have a scaly pattern, the chest and upper back are bluish-green with reddish and yellow spots; the underside of the back is copper-bronze with brown markings, the shoulders and wings are dark green, the primary feathers are brown with black and gray spots on the outer side of the fan.
The tail feathers are light chestnut, and the highly elongated coverts are as bright and similar in color as those of the common peacock, but with a metallic copper-red tint. The beak is black, the legs are gray.
The female differs little in color from the male, but smaller in size.
indian peacock(Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacock. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). The national bird of India is indian peacock(Pavo cristatus) is a brightly colored swan-sized bird with a fan-shaped tuft of feathers on its head, white spots under the eyes, and a long, thin neck. Chest and neck Indian peacock are covered with brilliant blue feathers, and the magnificent tail consists of long bronze-green feathers, of which there are about 200. Domesticated by man.
Body length of a common peacock ( Indian) 100-125 cm, tail 40-50 cm, elongated, decorated with "eyes" feathers of the uppertail 120-160 cm. The male weighs 4-4, 25 kg. The head, neck and part of the chest are blue, the back is green, the bottom of the body is black. The female is smaller, more modestly colored and lacks elongated uppertail feathers.
Lives in large or small flocks. It feeds mainly on plant foods, partly on animals (insects, mollusks, small vertebrates). Hardy and unpretentious in content. Life expectancy is about 20 years.
Polygamous bird: the male lives with a group of 3-5 females. Reaches sexual maturity at two to three years. The breeding season is from April to September.
Lays 4-10 eggs directly on the ground, in captivity makes up to three clutches per year. The egg incubation period is 28 days.
A young male common (Indian) peacock from one year to 1.5 years old wears an outfit similar to that of a female, and typical adult feathers fully develop in him only at the age of three years.
Widely distributed in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka at altitudes up to 2000 m above sea level, lives in the jungle and woodlands, on cultivated lands and near villages, preferring thickets of bushes, forest clearings and river banks.
By the beginning of the 20th century, peacocks were kept relatively rarely to decorate bird yards and parks, since it was believed that their unpleasant voice and the damage they caused in gardens did not correspond to the pleasure delivered by its sight. It is now often kept as an ornamental bird; in India - in a semi-domestic state.
In captivity, the common peacock is not particularly prolific, always retains a certain amount of independence, does not get along well with the rest of the poultry, but it can withstand even quite severe cold, suffering little from snow.
In India, hunting for peacocks is prohibited by law, but poachers hunt them for their beautiful feathers, as well as meat, which is mixed with chicken or turkey when sold.
white peacock. White peacock, or Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacocks. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). Domesticated by man.
This variety of common peacock lives in southern India and Sri Lanka, has a brilliant white plumage with various shades and points on the wings; tail feathers are also completely white with large white spots separated by shade at the ends. The beak and legs of a white peacock are reddish. white peacock- like a bride who "acts like a peahen." Birds of this color have a very special charm: blue "eyes" in pure white plumage.
Characteristic of the male white peacock is a strong development of upper covert feathers
The food of peacocks consists of seeds, tender shoots of plants and invertebrates.. They willingly feed on the fields with seedlings of cultivated cereals, and when the berries ripen, they eat them in large quantities. Peacocks are able to catch and eat snakes or swallow small rodents.
These birds breed at different times depending on the geographical location of the area. In the south, the nesting season begins at the end of the rainy period, and in the north it lasts from April to July. Males protect a nesting area up to 1 ha, but females do not recognize its boundaries. The male has up to 3-5 females, which, after mating, leave him, arrange a nest under a bush or near uprooted tree roots and lay 5-7 large yellowish-white eggs. The basis of marital relations among peacocks is mating, harems break up after mating, and males do not participate in incubation and rearing of chicks.
Peacocks belong to one of the most beautiful and largest birds, so people paid attention to them in ancient times. Already in the parks of the Roman Caesars, they were kept as decorative birds, and meat seasoned with various spices was served on the table during the feast. And at present, peacocks are kept in parks and gardens as decorative birds.
Peacocks make loud, harsh calls that not everyone can bear.. Therefore, despite the beauty, these birds are rarely kept at home, but still lovers living in southern regions in our country, especially in the Caucasus, they breed peacocks.
Despite the prescription of domestication, the peacock is almost no different from its ancestors. In addition to birds with the usual color, there are only varieties with pure white plumage or with brown spots scattered over a white background with blue and purple edging. Sometimes such birds can be found in some areas and in the wild.
Peacocks easily tolerate acclimatization, are unpretentious to the conditions of detention, and are insensitive to rain and cold. In the south of our country, both in winter and in summer, they can spend the night on a tree or perch under open sky. Only in especially severe winters they need to be kept in a warmed shed, however, in winter, during the daytime, birds can be let out for a walk. Hobbyists need to know that peacocks can't get along with pheasants, domestic chickens, and other chickens and can beat them to death.
Adult peacocks should be fed the same as domestic chickens. They willingly eat grain, root crops, meat, bread and other food. To keep birds, specially equipped enclosures are needed, in which high poles (up to 2-3 m) should be installed or trees should be planted. It is good to arrange a roof over the poles so that the birds can hide from rain and sun.
Domestic peacocks are easy to breed, but at the same time, one male should not have more than 3-4 females. Females start laying, depending on the weather, from April or May until the end of July. If eggs are taken all the time, up to 30 eggs can be collected from one female. In order for them to rush in one place, and not scatter eggs around the aviary, you need to build a nest in a secluded place - put a basket or box, and cover the bottom with straw.
Sometimes the female lays an egg while sitting on a perch, and it falls to the ground and breaks. In such cases, a thick layer of sawdust or sand is poured under the perch, but such eggs are unsuitable for hatching chicks (they can only be used for food).
For incubation, eggs should be placed under turkeys or chickens.. Female peacocks usually do not incubate well, but if one of them brought out the chicks, she warms them, looks for food for them and sleeps with them on a bough of a tree or perch. In cold rainy weather, they climb under her plumage so that only heads on a long neck peek out from there.
Immediately after hatching, the chicks are very tender: they are afraid of cold, dampness, rain and bright sun, so their care should be more thorough than for ordinary pheasant chicks. You need to feed the peacocks on the very first day of their life, as soon as they dry under the hen. The food for chicks is the same as for pheasants or chickens of domestic chickens, but with the addition of small mealworms and fresh herbs at first. As the chicks grow up, they are given millet grains, crushed wheat, barley, and oatmeal. At the age of 2 months. they already eat the same as adult peacocks, love berries and sweet fruits, consume animal feed: leftover meat, meat powder, curdled milk, insects and their larvae. Meat powder is given to them mixed with bread crumbs, pounded with hard-boiled eggs and flour, diluted with water. It is also very good to give boiled rice or millet porridge mixed with finely chopped onions or nettles.
A male peacock is a decoration of a park or home yard. Dressed in luxurious multi-colored plumage, he proudly walks in front of the females, shakes and moves his feathers, makes a slight rustle, spreads the elongated feathers of the upper tail like a fan. Mating postures and dances during the current last 15-20 minutes, in the rest of the year they are expressed in the same, but more short-term postures. The intensity of mating behavior is affected by the state of the weather: males are especially willing to lek in cool weather.
In September, peacocks molt. The male loses almost all the feathers of the rump, but still remains very beautiful. He keeps himself at this time more calmly.
PEACOCK - a symbol of pride, an emblem of beauty and immortality. In many countries, the peacock was considered a royal bird, and Hindus revere it as sacred. In the homeland of the peacock, in South Asia, it is highly valued for the fact that it warns of the approach of tigers, snakes and thunderstorms. It is believed that due to the beauty of its plumage, the peacock is able to "process" the poison of the snake struck by it.
In Russia, a completely different attitude has developed towards peacocks due to the fact that only rich people could breed them. Therefore, only in the Russian mind did the peacock become a symbol of arrogance and arrogance. The expression "spread its tail like a peacock" acquired the meaning of not only courtship, but also vanity, feigned pride.
According to Greek myth, the peacock was associated with the wife of Zeus, Hera. When Hermes killed the hundred-eyed Argos by lulling him to sleep by playing the flute, Hera revived him by transferring the eyes of Argos to the plumage of a peacock. Among the Romans, the peacock became an attribute of Juno, for which the Amoretti, winged babies, collected "eyes" from its tail. On Roman coins, the peacock was depicted as a sign of the divinity of the daughters of the emperor.
In early Christianity, the image of a peacock was associated with the symbolism of the sun and began to be perceived as a symbol of immortality, like a turtle in the East, and the beauty of an imperishable soul. In the Christian tradition, the "eyes" of the peacock sometimes symbolize the "all-seeing" Church. Since this bird periodically renews its plumage, it became a symbol of immortality, as well as resurrection, since there was a belief that its flesh did not rot, even after lying in the ground for three days. The peacock is also an attribute of the Christian Great Martyr Barbara (III century) and the allegory of Pride.
Peacock- the solar bird of India, a symbol of many gods, in particular the Buddha. At the level of Eastern emblematics, a peacock tail fan was considered a symbol of suffering and was an attribute of Avalokiteshvara, one of the main bodhisattvas of the Buddhist tradition. In China, during the Ming Dynasty, such a fan was awarded for high merit in the service of the emperor. In Islam, the "eye" of the peacock is associated with the "eye of the heart" and therefore with inner vision. The Indian god of love, Kama, was often depicted sitting on a peacock, which symbolizes passionate desires.
This idea of passion finds its echo in the world of butterflies, where a male night peacock moth can scent a female several kilometers away. The pattern of its wings, reminiscent of numerous eyes, in Indian mythology perceived as a picture of the starry sky. The symbolism of two peacocks on both sides of the cosmic tree came from ancient Persia to the Muslims, and from them to the West and means the psychic duality of a person who draws his strength from the principle of unity.
The tail of a peacock, including all the colors of the rainbow, was perceived as a universal symbol. For example, in Islam, the tail of a peacock, revealed in all its beauty, meant either the universe, or the full moon or the sun at its zenith. The peacock's tail appears in the 84th emblem of Bosch's "Symbolic Art" as an idea of the whole and a sign of the union of all colors.
In alchemy, the “peacock's tail” is the second stage of the “great work”, when the “black of blacks” is covered with all the colors of the rainbow. In the alternation of the time of day, the peacock corresponds to twilight. With a snake in its beak, it signifies the victory of light over darkness.
In some countries, the peacock is considered a harbinger of trouble. Its feathers are called "the eyes of the devil" and "warn" of the appearance of a traitor. The most common superstition in England is that peacock feathers should not be kept at home: a catastrophe may befall the owner or his daughters will not marry. It is believed that the presence of a peacock on the stage can lead to the failure of the play. Perhaps all these prejudices are explained by the fact that the ever-open "eye" in the peacock feather is associated with the evil eye and, therefore, with bad luck.
In heraldry, the peacock was depicted with loose plumage, which in the language of heraldry, "blazon", was called "a peacock in its pride."
The peacock's tail, in particular, appears in the eighty-fourth emblem of Bosch's "Symbolic Art" as a symbol of the mixture of all colors, as well as the idea of the whole. This explains why in Christian art it appears as a symbol of immortality and the incorruptible soul.
In Hindu mythology, the pattern of its wings, resembling countless eyes, is said to represent the starry sky.
A solar symbol associated with the cult of the tree and the Sun, as well as with the peon. Symbolizes immortality, longevity, love. A natural symbol of the stars in the sky and, as a result, ascension to Heaven and immortality. Associated with the storm, as he becomes restless before the rain, and his dance during the rain reflects the symbolism of the spiral. Loquacity, swagger, and vanity are relatively late connotations. Buddhism: compassion and vigilance. A fan of peacock feathers is an attribute of Avalokiteshvara, who is also identified with Kwan-yin and Amitabha, as a symbol of compassion. China: dignity, high rank, beauty. Attribute of Kuan-yin and Si Wan-Mu. The peacock feather was awarded upon receiving a high rank for merit and meant the favor of the emperor. Emblem of the Ming dynasty.
Christianity: immortality, resurrection, the soul glorified before the Lord, as the peacock renews its plumage, and its meat was considered incorruptible. "One Hundred Eyes" of the All-Seeing Church. It also symbolizes saints, since its tail resembles a halo. A peacock sitting on a sphere or power personified the ability to rise above worldly things. His pen is the emblem of Saint Barbara.
However, on the other hand, the Christian doctrine of a humble life led to the fact that the sins of pride, luxury and vanity began to be identified with the image of the peacock, therefore, in Western art, the peacock is most often the personification of Pride. In Russia, there was such an attitude towards peacocks: since only a very wealthy person could afford to breed these rare birds, all the qualities that were hated in the master were transferred to the "master's bird". Therefore, in Russia, the peacock is an emblem of arrogance, complacency and arrogance.
Ancient Greece: solar symbol, symbol of the bird-god Phaon "shaking". Initially - an attribute of Pan, then borrowed by the Hero as a symbol of the starry vault. The eyes of Argus were scattered by Hera over his tail. Hinduism: sometimes - the mount of Brahma; the peacock is also ridden by Lakshmi and the war god Skanda-Karttikeya; when the god of love Kama sits astride it, this symbolizes an impatient desire. The peacock is the emblem of the goddess of wisdom, music and poetry Saraswati. In Iran, peacocks standing on both sides of the Tree of Life signify dualism and the dual nature of man. It also symbolizes royal power: the throne of the Persian shahs was called the “peacock throne”. Islam: the light that "saw the self like a peacock with its tail spread". The eye of the peacock is associated with the Eye of the Heart. The Japanese Bodhisattva Kujaku-Mae always sits on a peacock. Rome: the bird of Juno with the same meaning as - in the case of Hera. Emblem of the Empress and daughters of the Emperor.
An ornamental bird originating from India, where it is, thanks to its luxurious fan-shaped tail. considered a symbol of the sun.
through Babylon. Persia and Asia Minor, she reached Samos and became a sacred bird there in the temple of Hera. In the 5th c. BC. in Athens, peacocks as an exotic rarity were shown for money, and in the 2nd century. BC. in Rome they were the sacred birds of Juno.
In India, some gods were depicted riding peacocks.
In the West, the peacock was considered a slayer of snakes, and the iridescent colors of the tail were attributed to its ability to turn snake venom into solar substance.
In the East, the Yezidi Kurdish sect (“devil worshipers”) regard the peacock as Melek Taus (King Peacock), the messenger of God: in Islam, it is considered a symbol of the cosmos or the large celestial bodies of the Sun and Moon.
In early Christianity, positive interpretations of the peacock were also preferred. Its meat was considered incorruptible (a symbol of Christ in the tomb), the loss of feathers and their new growth in the spring was equally seen as a symbol of renewal and resurrection. The ancient folk belief continued to operate, according to which the blood of a peacock casts out demons. Quite often, the peacock was depicted in the images of the grotto in Bethlehem, where Christ was born: two peacocks that drink from the same cup indicate spiritual rebirth, and cherubs often find four wings of peacock feathers. The "eyes" of peacocks were understood as an indication of divine omniscience, peacock meat until modern times was considered food that gives strength to the sick. Negative traits are noted in the text of the early Christian Physiologus: The peacock “walks about, looks at himself with pleasure and shakes his plumage, puts on airs and arrogantly looks around him. But if he looks at his paws, he will scream angrily, because they do not match the rest of his appearance. If a Christian, such is the symbolic interpretation, sees his own virtues, he may rejoice; “but when you see your feet, namely your flaws, then turn to God with a complaint and hate injustice, as a peacock hates his paws, so that you appear before the (heavenly) bridegroom justified.”
This launches into circulation the symbolic meaning that is usual for today, which since the Middle Ages in books about animals (“Bestiaries”) makes the peacock a bird symbolizing vanity, luxury and arrogance (arrogance). This also meant a spiritual preacher. “When a peacock is praised, he raises and spreads his tail, just as another preacher, when praised by flatterers, exalts his spirit in vainglorious majesty. If he raises his tail, then his bottom is exposed, and he becomes a laughing stock when he swaggers arrogantly. This means that the peacock must keep its tail low, so that everything that the teacher does, humbly fulfill ”(Unterkircher). In the Baroque era, in the images of scenes of the Way of the Cross to Golgotha, Jesus, stripped of his clothes, atones for people for the sin of vanity, which is represented by a peacock placed nearby.
Among the minnesingers, this bird was considered the embodiment and personification of arrogance, arrogant pride (“He walked proudly back and forth, just like a peacock,” Hugo Trimbergsky).
In China, a positive interpretation was borrowed from the Indian region (Goddess Saraswati rides a peacock, Indra sits on a peacock throne), the peacock personifies beauty and dignity, drives out evil forces and dances at the sight of beautiful women. Peacock feathers were the hallmark of the Manchu emperor and were exhibited in vases. Peacocks were also kept in the Chinese garden.
In the figurative world of alchemy, the iridescent peacock tail in some texts and images is considered a sign of the emerging transformation of lower substances into higher ones. in others - a symbol of an unsuccessful process, which brings with it only slag (caput mortuum - a dead head).
In heraldry, the peacock appears only occasionally (for example, the heraldic figure of the counts von Wied, the treasure helmet of the counts von Ortenburg, the peacock tail as the treasure helmet of the archdukes of Austria, the peacock fan as an adornment of the heraldic helmets of the princes von Schwarzenberg, the counts von Henneberg, etc.), and , naturally, a positive interpretation of the image of a peacock (resurrection, radiance) was assumed here.
Shining glory, immortality, greatness, incorruptibility, pride.
The sparkling splendor of the tail of the male peacock is the reason for comparing him with the immortal gods, and therefore with immortality.
Since snakes were considered enemies of the sun in Iranian symbolism, the peacock was believed to kill snakes in order to use their saliva to create iridescent bronze-green and blue-gold "eyes" on its tail feathers. Added to this legend was the idea that peacock meat is indestructible.
In Islamic decorative art, the unity of opposites (the sun at its zenith next to the full moon) was depicted as two peacocks under the World Tree.
Peacocks are widely known as an emblem of greatness, royalty, spiritual superiority, an ideal creation.
In Persia, the shah's court was called the "peacock throne".
From here, from the East, the image of a peacock or simply a peacock feather in a knight's hat came to Europe as a symbol of his high moral thoughts.
Some contradiction can be seen in the fact that the Indian Mars, the god of war Kartikeya, the son of the wise Shiva, rides a peacock, but in fact there is no contradiction here: if you read the ancient Indian books on military art, we will see that then there will be no war. were a means of mass extermination of people, which were the wars of the 20th century - rather, they were tournaments, something similar to knightly competitions in Europe.
They tried to make these competitions as magnificent and spectacular as possible. Often, as if everything proceeded according to a pre-arranged scenario, a bloody fight between representatives of deadly warring clans ended suddenly with the betrothal of a young man and a girl from both clans and a holiday that could last for weeks.
Symbolism and a deep perception of the surrounding world are combined in Art Nouveau with surprisingly expressive and beautiful external forms and images that are not often considered from the point of view of philosophy. When I studied at the university, it was customary to talk about Modern as a bourgeois, superficially overly aestheticized and superficial style. In fact, the choice of subjects in the era of Art Nouveau was absolutely not accidental and deeply thought out, because all the artists who worked then, with rare exceptions, had a deep academic education, which involved knowledge of both mythology and symbolism. If we take into account the general enthusiasm for the culture of the East, at that time, then we can imagine what an interesting cultural and historical mix underlies the philosophy of Art Nouveau.
Peacock - symbolizes the colorful diversity of the world. The peacock is often made the personification of infinite diversity, a cheerful spirit with which God created this earth, having fun as he wanted.
In Indian mythology, when Krishna and Radha - two incarnations of the god Vishnu - dance and play in the eternal joy of love, peacocks look at them. There are cult toys, for example: Krishna and Radha swing on a swing, and again we see peacocks on the swing posts. The motley peacock seems to be telling us: no matter how hard life is, no matter what unpleasant surprises it brings us, it is inevitable, we must find joy in life and believe that its diversity will always allow us to find a positive edge. At the Indian court, the peacock always accompanied the image of both deities - Krishna and Radha - and was a symbol of an exemplary life of love and beauty.
In heraldry, the peacock is depicted with loose plumage. In "blazon" (the language of heraldry) it is called "a peacock in its pride".
Tausin - peacock stone (from the Persian "tausi") was called labradorite in Russia for its resemblance to the play of peacock plumage. The nobility of St. Petersburg wore rings, rings and snuff boxes made of this stone, and the ladies showed outfits made of iridescent "taausin" silk. However, the “tausine fashion” lasted until 1835, when the discovery of the richest labradorite deposit in Ukraine depreciated this mineral.
sources
http://www.zoopicture.ru
http://zooclub.ru
http://miragro.com
Dictionary Dahl
All types of peacocks belong to the chicken order. This is partly why they have pronounced sexual dimorphism - differences in appearance between females and males. Female peacocks have a modest and touching beauty, are excellent mothers and can become a real decoration of the yard along with males.
Many people are puzzled by the question - what is the name of the female peacock. The answers are very different - chicken, chicken, peacock.
However, the correct name for a peacock girl is pava. It is a scientific and common term.
Distinguishing a peacock from a peacock is quite simple. It has a more modest coloration and does not grow long rump feathers. However, it cannot be called gray and inconspicuous. The color of the plumage depends on the species and color subspecies (the common peacock has more than one hundred and fifty artificially bred colors). The main task of the peacock girl is to incubate eggs and breed chicks, which means that the catchy color will attract attention and become noticeable against the background of the bush.
The peacock, on the other hand, has a variegated color to attract the attention of a partner.
Variety of colors of peacocks
female peacock
African subspecies
The Congolese peacock is rarer and not many people know about its existence. The birds are medium-sized, very cautious and secretive, preferring to nest in places that are hard to reach for humans. African peacock females have small spurs on their legs. The head of a peahen is almost devoid of feathers, and the skin has a grayish brown or Brown color. The plumage of the neck is a rich red color. A neat head is decorated with a crest of chestnut, brown or greenish-brown feathers. Tail feathers are most often black. The plumage of the back and wings - all shades of green, from very dark, almost black, to emerald green. Each feather has a dark edging and longitudinal brownish stripes. Pava plumage has a rich metallic sheen. The body length of the female of the African subspecies of the peacock does not exceed fifty centimeters.
Javanese subspecies
The female Javanese peacock looks very similar to the male. However, it is smaller and lacks beautiful uppertail feathers. The plumage of the neck and head is greenish brown, some feathers cast gold in the sun. The tuft is usually of the same tone. The area around the eyes is blue, blue-gray or gray in color. The feathers of the lower part of the neck are green and very saturated. They have a greenish border with a pattern resembling scales. Part of the back from above, as well as the chest, are blue-green, with an abundance of red and yellow spots. In the tail area there are feathers with a beautiful bronze-copper tint. The color of the legs is most often gray, and the beak is black.
male peacock
African subspecies
The male Congolese peacock differs from his relatives in that he does not grow the famous uppertail feathers and does not have such a catchy and bright appearance. The plumage of the male is very modest and in many respects similar to the plumage of the female. The paws of the male peacock are decorated with long and sharp spurs. The head is devoid of feathers, and the skin is most often dark brown or greenish brown. The crest is golden brown, golden green, chocolate or dark gray. Tail feathers are black, with a bronze sheen. The plumage of the bird's body is from dark green to light, gray-green. The body length of the male together with the tail is no more than one meter.
Javanese subspecies
The male Javanese peacock is distinguished by its beauty and long, sometimes up to two meters, feathers of the tail. The color of the plumage and the pattern of the feather are in many ways similar to the plumage of the female, however, all colors are much brighter and richer, with a characteristic golden sheen. By the beginning of the breeding season, males grow long tail feathers, which many confuse with a tail. Feathers consist of a strong axis, long silky hairs, painted in bright green in a variety of shades - from black-green to turquoise, bluish-green and even yellow-green. The feathers end with a kind of fan with a pattern resembling an eye.
common peacock
female peacock
The color of an ordinary peahen depends on its color form. She is slightly smaller than her life partner. The body length rarely exceeds 100 cm. The natural wild color is dark brown, the feathers have a black edging, the bottom of the neck is dark green or dark blue. A neat head is decorated with a crest of golden brown, gray-brown, gray or dark brown feathers.
male peacock
Ordinary male peacocks are quite beautiful in their natural wild coloration: the plumage of a neat head, neck, and breast is a rich blue color that has a purple sheen in the sun. On the back, feathers are blue-green, dark green or emerald green. The bottom of the body is painted in dark tones- dark chocolate, black, dark blue. The crest consists of blue or green, purple feathers. Tail feathers are most often brown.
One of the natural colors of the common peacock is white. The white peacock is not an albino at all, although many people think so.
White coloration is a consequence of the influence of the autosomal dominant gene W. Birds have a snow-white even plumage, without any color blotches. Blue eyes. The females of the white peacock have the same plumage color as the males.
In addition to the wild, that is, natural and white color, there are eight more main colors of plumage of ordinary peacocks:
- Charcoal or black
- Cameo,
- Buford color or bronze,
- Peach,
- Purple,
- Opal,
- Midnight or smoky
- Green yellow.
Each of the main plumage colors can have up to twenty varieties. The females of the colored forms of the peacock have the same coloration as the males, but in a more modest form. This is due to the fact that all these color forms are bred under artificial conditions and females do not need to beware of predators when breeding.
Features of feeding female peacocks
When breeding birds at home, the content of female peacocks and males does not differ in any way. The only exception is feeding the peahen during the breeding season. At this time, they need additional nutrition, vitamins and supplements.
The standard daily diet of a peacock looks like this:
- about 55 - 60 grams of corn, crushed grains are better,
- 40-45 grams of oats or barley grains,
- up to 100 grams of various grain waste,
- 40 -45 grams of herbal flour,
- 100 - 150 grams of clean and chopped vegetables,
- fresh grass or hay - plenty.
With the advent of spring, females begin to prepare for the breeding season and oviposition.
During this period, it is necessary to add meat and bone meal to the main diet - up to ten grams per day for each bird, up to one hundred grams of boiled and chopped potatoes, about 100 grams of succulent feed (vegetables, fruits, root crops), and up to two hundred grams of protein feed ( it is recommended to give cottage cheese, fish or minced meat, legumes). In the same period, the need for peahen in minerals increases. To fill the balance and satisfy the needs of the bird, a mixture of chalk, small shell rock and crushed egg shells, calcium, ordinary clay and sulfur is placed in a separate feeder. Various insect larvae and fish fry, as well as boiled clams and earthworms, will be a good top dressing for the peahen during the breeding season.