Rumors about where peacocks live reached European shores much earlier than the birds themselves. Sailors admired the bright plumage and beauty of birds. Active interest in them has not subsided so far, although almost all zoos and 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.

Beautiful birds from legends and fairy tales have always attracted a lot of attention. They used to live in the Pacific Islands and Australia. This was the reason why firebirds were present only in the stories of sailors, from where they eventually migrated to fairy tales. According to legend, the Dutch pioneers were the first to see the birds. From them came the name "birds of paradise". This name for peacocks is still preserved in English. Europeans learned about wonderful birds thanks to trade sea routes. After that, rumors about birds reached America.

Today, birds are common on almost all continents and in all countries. There are a lot of species of birds of paradise, among which in the rainforest there are also the size of a tit.

1. Forests of India. Indian bird species are considered the most popular in the world. They are distinguished by a green tail and blue plumage. Where exactly does the peacock live? At first, this bird species lived only in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In the natural environment, peacocks prefer places to live near forest clearings, river banks and rural crops. Pastures and crops are suitable for finding food.
2. Thailand and Africa. Most of the bird species are found in these areas. For example, one of the most numerous species, the Javanese peacock, comes from Thailand. Outwardly, it is very similar to its Indian counterpart, it differs in the color of its plumage, which has a pronounced green tint. The African Congolese bird of paradise is also common. The homeland of the peacock is even near the Himalayas, where some of their species are common.

Birds prefer to live in dense thickets, where it is difficult to keep up with them. Peacocks live in the jungle or forests overgrown with dense shrubs.

As already mentioned, these birds live in Nepal, Australia, Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Where peacocks live, they eat insects, seeds, and plants. Occasionally they feed on small animals.

Burmese species - a subspecies of the Indian peacock

Facts about peacocks help you get to know the history of birds better. The name "peacock" has long been a household name for narcissistic people. The reason for this lies in the behavior of the birds themselves, which from the outside look extremely graceful, as if feeling superior to the rest. This refers to the “stronger sex”, because among peacocks it is the males who can boast of a large and beautiful tail, and the females look very modest.

Surprisingly, the luxurious feather fan, which is the real decoration of the bird, has nothing to do with the tail, as is commonly believed. The tail of the birds is small and neat. Attractive feathers are located in front of the tail, which they close when folded. Out of habit, non-specialists continue to call beautiful feathers a tail. An interesting fact about peacocks is that such a bird decoration grows by the third year of life. At the same time, the average life span of the birds of paradise is 20 years.

With the help of a feather fan, peacocks:

1. Taking care of the "weaker sex". Nature did not reward peacocks with vocal data. Therefore, males lure girlfriends with a feather fan. And, I must say, they do it well, because one male can “charm” up to three females. Courtship is a real ritual.
2. Protect from enemies. Peacocks also use their tail as a defense tool against predators. The enemy usually retreats under the influence of an unraveled feather fan.
3. "Speak" to each other. Scientists claim that when the feathers move, ultrasound is emitted, which is inaccessible to the human ear. Sometimes even small fluctuations of the tail are traced, which pass from the base of the pen to its end. The vibrations are accompanied by a light sound, similar to the rustling of grass.

With such an ornament, despite the external heaviness, peacocks manage very deftly, even rising into the air. Birds of paradise soar above the ground for a short time, but at the same time they look incredibly elegant.

The appearance of birds from time immemorial guaranteed them a place in royal gardens and imperial palaces. Birds are considered a symbol of magnificence, pride and immortality in eastern countries. Often they became characters in fairy tales, and in legends and myths they were faithful companions of the gods. Birds are considered sacred in India. Here they are also a national symbol. But not everyone treats firebirds with the same admiration; for some peoples, they have become a symbol of misfortune and misfortune.

Green peacock lives in tropical forests

Summary

Where does the peacock live today? These birds of paradise have already settled on many continents. They can be found both in the savannah and in impenetrable rainforests. They settle down at the foot of the Himalayas and make their nests on the edge of the forest. Birds have their own interesting sides that make them special and attract the attention of zoologists.

Who has not heard or seen this amazing bird with a gorgeous tail? To date, you will not find a zoo that does not contain these birds. But where do peacocks live in nature? What conditions do they require and what do they eat?

Habitat

The peacock belongs to the pheasant family and belongs to the order Galliformes. Therefore, it is also called the big chicken. And yet, where do peacocks live? It is known that the main habitat of peacocks is India and Sri Lanka. It was here that the common peacock or, as it is also called, the Indian peacock, was first discovered. This species is the most common today - it can be observed in almost all zoos in the world.

Another species of peacock lives on the island of Java, and in Indochina. This species is called gigantic or Javanese. It is much larger than usual and has a brighter color. It must be said that there are about 50 species of peacocks. All of them are different in size, but the males have a magnificent tail, which refers them to this species.

Distribution history

For the first time this amazing bird was seen by the Dutch, who reached the islands in the Pacific Ocean. They, having arrived back, told an amazing story about a magnificent tail. Naturally, these stories raised a lot of questions. Where do peacocks live? In which country can they be seen? Following the discoverers of India, traders followed, who brought unusual birds. Interestingly, the first mention of these creatures is found in ancient scrolls, including the Bible.

These birds adorned the magnificent palaces of the powerful rulers of Ancient Egypt, Rome and India, and were also the pride of the richest and wisest king in the history of mankind - Solomon. Peacocks came to Europe during the time of Alexander the Great, famous for his aggressive campaigns in the countries where peacocks live.

Structural features

Peacocks are very large birds: their size, together with the tail, is up to 2.5 meters. Although it must 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, because they reach a size of 160 centimeters.

In the Indian peacock, the main color of the plumage of the head, neck and chest is bright blue. The back is green with color overflows, and the bottom is black. This coloring is especially important for attracting females, because the voice of a peacock is terrible, like that of a crow. But the magnificent tail feathers look chic - 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 knows that this is one of the ways of communication.

Nutrition

Brought to Europe, at first they were simply kept in cages, but with the development of zoos, other questions arose. How to tell people about what kind of bird it is - a peacock? Where does he live? What does it eat? The answer required learning more about their natural habitat. It is interesting that, having arrived in India, peacocks were found at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level. Their favorite places were thickets of bushes located near villages and cultivated fields. This spoke of the way they were fed: they feasted on cereals in the nearby fields.

They also ate berry bushes growing nearby. The bird does not disdain to eat small rodents, as well as small snakes. The only condition for peacocks to live nearby is the presence of a reservoir nearby and separate tall trees. India is replete with such places and this is the best place for birds. In addition, Indians believe in the sanctity of this bird and allow it to eat from their fields. It is interesting that where the peacock bird lives, there are fewer snakes and in this way it benefits the people living in the neighborhood.

reproduction

In the case of reproduction of their own kind, peacocks are like chickens - there are up to 5 females per male. The breeding season for these birds coincides with the beginning of the rainy season. Therefore, in areas where peacocks live, people consider them to be harbingers of rain. During the breeding season, the male spreads his colorful tail, brings it forward and begins the mating dance. Thus, he attracts the attention of the female, and it is up to her to choose a partner - whose dance will impress the most, so she will.

The female does not build nests, but lays her eggs directly on the ground. There are usually up to 10 eggs in the hole. It must be said that the pava is a very selfless mother, she will protect her offspring to death. Unlike females, males flee at the sight of danger, warning their brothers with a loud cry. Chicks are born gray and up to 1.5 years old, males practically do not differ from females. Peacocks reach maturity at the age of 4 years, at the same time the males have their magnificent plumage.

It must be said that for a long time peacocks were bred not only for beauty, but also for food. The meat of this bird on the table was considered the height of wealth and was served only on special occasions.

The peacock is considered the most beautiful bird among the members of the order Galliformes. And his beauty lies in a beautiful bright tail, which he knows how to fan out. At the same time, all the feathers of the peacock's tail are decorated with multi-colored "eyes" at the end. Also decorated with a beautiful crest and the head of a peacock, which seems to resemble a crown with bells.

Scientific classification:

Style: Peacock

Family: Pheasant

Genus: Peacocks

Class: Birds

Order: Chicken

Type: Chordates

Kingdom: Animals

Domain: Eukaryotes

Peacocks are widespread in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Most often they live at an altitude of 2000 meters or more above sea level. They prefer jungles and forests. Also found near villages. They love riverbanks and bushes. They will not be located in open areas or vice versa in dense thickets.

The peacock was domesticated by man. In the old days, peacocks were hunted for their beautiful feathers, they were served on the table, and their eggs were also consumed. Today, they can also often be found in captivity.

Hindus consider peacocks a sacred bird and believe in their ability to warn with their cry of approaching thunderstorms, snakes and tigers.

Peacock Anatomy

The body length of a peacock is on average 100-125 cm, while the length of the tail is usually about 50 cm, but the length of the tail feathers is 120-150 cm. At the same time, a remarkable fact is that the peacock's tail itself is gray and rather short. But it is precisely the feathers of the peacock's uppertail that are the very famous decoration of the bird. Such feathers are decorated at the ends with "eyes" and can reach a length of up to 1.5 meters. The male weighs approximately 4 kg and a little more. Unlike males, the female peacock is smaller, less brightly colored, and does not have elongated tail feathers.

The peacock's tail also plays a protective role. As soon as the peacock notices the danger, he spreads his tail. A huge number of multi-colored eyes can knock a predator off the target. Also, the tail helps the male to attract his female during mating games. It is only in September that the peacock's tail begins to lose its plumage in order to appear again in the spring in all its glory.

The voice of peacocks is not as attractive as their appearance. It doesn't sound like a chirping at all, more like a harsh scream or creak. Most often, peacocks cry before the rain. And during the mating dance, males, on the contrary, remain silent.

Scientists believe that peacocks are capable of emitting an infrasound signal with their elongated tail feathers, which the human ear cannot distinguish.

What do peacocks eat?

The main source of food for peacocks are cereals. That is why peacocks can live near villages - they raid the fields, thereby damaging the crop. With their long and lush tail, these birds move quite dexterously and quickly through the grass and bushes.

Peacocks also eat berries in large quantities, sometimes they can swallow a snake or small rodents. The young shoots of the grass are also eaten.

Peacock breeding

Peacocks are polygamous birds. One peacock immediately lives with a whole group of females, which can include up to 5 individuals. In order to attract a female, the male peacock spreads his tail and walks in front of the female. When the female pays attention to the male, he turns away and shows his indifference. Then it spreads its tail again and so on until the pair converges. The breeding season for peacocks is from April to September. Females lay up to 10 eggs in one clutch. The females incubate the eggs for 28 days.

Chicks are quite sensitive to cold and moisture. The female peacock protects for a long time and is next to her offspring.

Up to 1.5 years, the male peacock does not have elongated feathers above the tail and does not differ much from the female. The male releases his legendary tail by about three years of age. Peacocks have an average lifespan of 20 years.

Types of peacocks:

There are only two types of peacocks: the common (Indian) peacock and the Green (Javanese) peacock. Experiments were also carried out and these two species were crossed. As a result, a new species of peacocks has appeared, which is capable of producing offspring.

These two types of peacocks differ in color. The common peacock has a blue neck, gray wings and a mottled tail. There is also a black-winged peacock, which has blue wings and black shoulders. Completely white peacocks are found in nature. However, they are not albinos.

common peacock

Black-winged (black-shouldered) peacock

white peacock

green peacock

The green peacock has a green neck and tail, respectively, and brighter colors.

If you liked this material, share it with your friends on social networks. Thank you!

"In the proud beauty of a peacock, the majesty of God"

(William Blake)

"The sparrow takes pity on the peacock for having such a heavy tail"

(Rabindranath Tagore)

“Under the most beautiful peacock tail lies the most ordinary chicken butt. So less pathos, gentlemen"
(Faina Ranevskaya)

Peacocks (pheasant family, chicken order) are rightfully considered one of the most magnificent birds in nature, thanks to the huge fan-shaped eyed "tail" that males dissolve in mating dances in front of females, and also sometimes scare away enemies with this "many-eyed" train.

For a beautiful tail, a peacock is mistakenly mistaken for highly developed covering feathers, which have long been an object of human fishing. Hats and helmets of medieval knights were decorated with these luxurious feathers, and rich ladies often decorated their ceremonial outfits with them.

Peacocks are large birds: their body length reaches 100-120 cm, tail 40-50 cm, elongated ocellated rump reaches 120-160 cm. The average weight of males is 4.5-5.0 kg.

Males are very elegant and brightly colored: their head, neck and part of the chest are blue; the back is golden green; the plumage of the wings is bright orange, and the underside of the body is black. The small head of the birds is located on an elegant long neck and is decorated with an elegant crest, similar to a crown with bells.

Female peacocks are smaller in size, their plumage is inconspicuous (gray and brown tones), and their tail is devoid of elongated uppertail feathers.

The most common species in nature is the common peacock (or Indian, or crested), this monotypic species has a number of color mutations, the main of which are white and black-winged.

The distribution area of ​​​​the common peacock is India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh.

A less numerous species is the Javan peacock (with three subspecies - Indochinese green, Javanese green and Burmese green). The Javan peacock is found in Java, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and South China.

Peacocks usually inhabit forests and bushy areas close to bodies of water, avoiding extended open spaces. Peacock habitats are often located at altitudes up to 2000 m above sea level. They also often settle near slopes overgrown with tall grass with separate tall trees (peacocks use them for overnight stays) or near developed fields, feeding on seeds of agricultural crops.

Peacocks spend most of their lives on the ground, quickly and deftly making their way through forest thickets and rummaging in the ground, which is typical for all chickens. The long tail at the same time does not constrain their movements at all. Peacocks are very cautious and shy birds, in case of danger they flee or hide in the bushes, and their bright plumage is a good camouflage in the colorful rainforest.

Peacocks have small wings, they fly heavily and reluctantly, and their strange flight is sometimes compared to the flight of dragons.

Peacocks have a loud and harsh voice. Their cries (similar to squeals or cat cries) can most often be heard before approaching rains and in moments of danger. Interestingly, during mating dances, peacocks remain silent, but scientists have found that these birds can communicate with infrasound signals that are inaccessible to the human ear.

In the jungle, peacocks mainly feed on the ground - grains, fruits and plant shoots. Often they feed on farmers' fields, however, since these birds also exterminate harmful mollusks, snakes (including young cobras dangerous to humans) and rodents, villagers are tolerant of peacocks. Also, these birds eat large insects, frogs and lizards.

Peacocks are polygamous birds - one male lives with a group of 3-5 females. These birds become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years. Their breeding season is January-April (Sri Lanka) or April-September (India). The female usually lays 4-10 eggs in a small hole lined with grass. Only the mother incubates the clutch, and the chicks are born in about a month.

Parents carefully look after small chicks, carefully hiding them from predators in dense vegetation. At the age of one month, young peacocks leave their secluded shelter and go out into the open areas of the forest. Already in the second month of life, their sex can be determined from their plumage, however, males acquire bright plumage and a long tail only after three years.

The natural enemies of peacocks are tigers and leopards.

In the wild, peacocks live for about 20 years.

The history of the domestication of the peacock

People appreciated the luxurious beauty of peacocks four thousand years ago. The first mention of the domestication of peacocks comes from India, where the peacock is now considered a national symbol.

In ancient Sanskrit books, peacocks were called "the pride of the creator." Buddha before his birth was considered a golden peacock and was often depicted riding this bird, in addition, in the Buddhist religion, the peacock is considered a symbol of compassion and takes the souls of dead people to heaven.

Also, images of peacocks adorn temples and ritual objects dedicated to the god Krishna and many myths and fairy tales are dedicated to them.

In India, peacocks were considered sacred birds for the followers of Hinduism, but pagans, Christians and Muslims treated them without any reverence.

These beautiful birds were imported from India for a lot of money and were considered the main decoration of the parks and gardens of Babylon.

Also in the 5th century, peacocks were brought to Greece by the armies of Alexander the Great and revered there as sacred birds to the goddess Hera. All Asian names for the peacock are borrowed from Greek. This amazing bird was mentioned in Aesop's fable, the ancient Greek play of the bird by Aristophanes.

In Rome, the future was predicted by the behavior of peacocks and they were worshiped as the birds of the goddess Juno, although the rich Romans widely ate peacock meat for food.

Introduced peacocks began to be widely bred on the islands near Italy, until their numbers greatly exceeded demand, and the birds fell in price. By the end of the 2nd century, Rome was filled with these exotic birds.

The peacock was brought to Europe from Rome and Christians revered it as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.

However, in Europe, peacock meat was eaten and considered a delicacy until the 15th century, when it began to be supplanted by turkey after the discovery of America.

In addition, these exotic birds were widely kept in captivity in Egypt, Assyria and Arabia and were considered a sign of wealth and power of the aristocracy.

In the 12th century, peacocks began to be imported to Japan and China, where they became a symbol of the beauty and wealth of their owners. The peacock even became the emblem of the rulers of the Ming Dynasty.

In the 19th century, peacocks were imported to South America, Australia and New Zealand, where they became partly feral and spread into wild forests.

In the 20th century and to this day, peacocks have been an adornment of parks and large estates in many countries, and the demand for them has continued to grow.

The image of a peacock in art and religion

The peacock has appeared in painting, applied arts, literature and religion for 3,000 years.

In the ancient cultures of India and Iran, the magnificent tail of a peacock was considered a symbol of the all-seeing sun and eternal cosmic cycles and personified beauty, pride, immortality and fearlessness.

In China, the peacock was a symbol of dignity, glory and greatness, and its feather was awarded upon receiving a high rank for services to the country and meant the favor of the emperor.

In oriental decorative art, two peacocks under the Myrtle Tree were an allegory of two luminaries - the sun at its zenith and the full moon and were a symbol of opposites.

In ancient Egypt, the peacock was a symbol of Heliopolis, the city in which the temple of the sun was located.

The ancient Persians believed that the fearless peacock used the saliva of the snakes he killed to decorate his tail.

According to ancient Greek legend, the goddess Hera gave the sacred peacock a thousand eyes of the dead all-seeing Argus.

In ancient Rome, the peacock was considered the emblem of the empress and her daughters, while the eagle was the bird of the emperor.

An important and luxurious peacock is a vivid example of how different views of the world can differ among representatives of different cultures. If in the East it was considered a sacred bird and an ideal divine creature, a symbol of royal majesty and glory, immortality and spiritual superiority, then in the countries of the Christian West, people saw in the peacock the embodiment of sinful pride and inflated conceit. In Russia, the peacock was a satirical character in fables, the personification of stupid vanity and narcissism.

Sacred handsome peacock - a symbol of greatness and immortality

5 (100%) 35 votes