Peacock Pictures, Facts and Gifts
Peacock Pictures and some interesting facts are included here. I took these pictures with my 8 year old grand daughter during a morning hike. The White Peacock is one I hadn’t seen before, and we were lucky to see many magnificent male peacocks fanning their feathers while doing the mating dance.
Peacocks are sacred birds in many parts of the world, as well as the National bird of India. The peacock that most of us know for it’s beautiful coloring of the eye feathers is called the India Blue. This is just one of several kinds of peacocks, and the exact opposite is the all white peacock.
The images here will show both male and female peacocks, as well as answer a few basic questions about Peacocks including why the male peacock is the pretty one. Besides the Peacock Images, there are links to other photos I have taken of nature.
Male India Blue Peacock
Peacock Feather Facts
The Male India Blue Peacock’s feathers are close to 5-6 feet in length when they are mature.The juvenile male is almost as drab looking as the female, as the tail feathers haven’t fully grown in yet. It takes about 3 years for a peacock to mature.
Peacocks have several kinds of feathers besides the eye feathers. There are 3 main sets of feathers:
1. Eye Feathers– these are the ones that are on the tail (train)
2. Wing Feathers– the striped or molted ones on the side
3. Sword Feathers– they are part of the tail, the tall wispy ones
Besides these are the beautiful feathers on the neck area, and the top feathers on their head. But mostly it is the eye feathers of the peacock that people collect. They use them for crafts like masks, earrings, and many other things. Peacocks lose their feathers once a year.
Watching several males from young juveniles to the older males they really reminded me of junior high and high school aged boys…trying to outdo each other for the benefit of a group of girls that acted like they could care less. In some of the peacock photos here you will see a few female peacocks not paying much attention and the male peacock just strutting his stuff.
The male peacock will strut around in full display,fanning his beautiful display of tail feathers, but if there are no females he will strut for the other males, it really is both beautiful and laughable.
What Do Peacocks Eat?
Wild or Domesticated Peacocks, what do they eat?
Peacock images taken by Kathy McGraw
Peacocks are part of the pheasant and turkey families and are used to foraging for their food.
Peacocks eat just about anything that is small and crawls from the insect world like ants, ticks, bugs, worms, termites, scorpions and mice. They also eat flowers, plants, grains, and berries. Peacocks have also been know to like cat food (dry) and chicken feed.
White Peacocks
All White Peacocks
White Peacock Picture by Kathy McGraw
White Peacocks have the same feathers as their counterparts except they’re just white.
Many people think the white peacock is an albino, but it’s not. Albinos have pink skin and eyes, but the white peacock has blue eyes. It is also believed they are rare, but again this isn’t true. There are probably more in captivity than in the wild, but they aren’t rare. Also some people believe that the white peacock is magical. This one, I can’t prove or disprove as everyone has their own beliefs as to spirituality and faith.
After following several peacocks around the ranch, we noticed a white peacock in the distance in one of the cages that was fanning his tail feathers, so we rushed over to see it. We were barely able to get this picture before he stopped fanning, and put his feathers down.
White Peacock Feathers
White Peacock Dry Erase Board
The White Peacock is beautiful if you’ve never seen one. No, it doesn’t have the coloring of the India Blue, but just appreciating the difference, and the conversation of “Have you ever seen a white peacock” makes this a great gift.
Peacock Fanning his Trail of Feathers During Mating Season
Male Peacock Fanning his Tail Feathers
Peacock Picture by Kathy McGraw
Why is the Male Peacock the Pretty One?
Male Peacocks have beautiful coloring while females are drab
Female Penhens blend in Image by Soleil
In the animal kingdom most males are the colorful ones, or the ones that have something extra like big antlers on bucks, and huge manes on lions. Why is this? And why do the male peacocks have the beautiful tail feathers while the females do not?
The most important reason the male peacock is prettier is for survival of the species. Males strut their stuff and show off with strength or wit, but it is the female who does the choosing. If a female is interested in selecting him she will let him know and then they mate.
The drab coloring on the female peacock helps her blend in with her surroundings while she is protecting her eggs which usually take about 28 days to hatch. Peacocks have to avoid their natural predators and the male can fly into a tree as he doesn’t have to worry about the eggs or chicks, while the female does.
Peacock Jewelry
Beautiful Jewelry With Peacock Themes
Peacock Necklace This genuine 925 Sterling Silver Peacock necklace, with gemstones and box chain, is just one of several peacock themed jewelry items that show off the majestic image of the peacock. Peacock feathers are what give these jewelry pieces their colorful charm.
More Photos by Kathy McGraw
and her grandchildren
I love taking photos and am still trying to figure out how to do them digitally. Most of my cameras are film, with all the lenses and filters. My grandkids also love taking photos and I am so amazed at the eye that a couple of them have. The peacock images were all taken during a morning photo shoot where the youngest and I went out at 5am to get pictures of the sunrise. We did get some amazing shots, and had a wonderful morning. Many of the photos in all of my writings have some of the best memories. And to me, that makes a great photo 😉
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Peacocks
Leave your comments here
My Grand daughter and I had a wonderful time taking these peacock pictures. She is 8 years old, and both of us spent a beautiful morning taking photos in the desert, and these peacocks were just one of the subjects we found that morning. You will notice the lighting…early morning shadows, but that’s as good as it gets when you are visiting somewhere.
