Peacocks have an incredible beauty that, unfortunately, is sometimes offset by the unpleasant honking and screaming noises they make as they strut around. These smart birds are not afraid of people, often getting up close and personal to satisfy their reciprocal curiosity of humans who stop to admire their feathers. Kids who want to learn more about how these birds behave will find facts about peacocks to be extremely interesting.
Everything to Know About Peacocks
Magnificent birds fluff their feathers, hold their heads high, and strut their stuff. Curious readers will love learning about all the ways these remarkable birds communicate using body language and spreading their feathers in grand gestures of showmanship, territoriality, and mating calls. The best children's books about peacocks interweave relatable themes around friendship, conflict, self-confidence, and adventure. Kids will love reading about the most distinguishable birds with astonishing beauty and interesting behavior unlike any other. Continue reading to learn the most interesting facts about the life and behavior of peacocks.
Fun Peacock Trivia Just for Kids
Kids are captivated by peacocks for obvious reasons. They are are incredibly vibrant birds, sporting iridescent feathers in shades of blue, green, and gold. Their elaborate tail display, which can fan out into a huge, "eye-spotted" circle, is visually stunning and unlike almost any other animal kids encounter. This spectacular sight immediately grabs a child's attention. It's relatively easy for kids to observe peacocks in person as they're common in zoos, farms, and even some parks. This direct experience often fuels their interest even more. Here is a list of interesting peacock facts to share with your children next time they spot one of these magnificent birds.
(1) The term peacock only applies to the male gender.
The species is actually called peafowl. Peahen is the term for females in the peafowl family, and babies are referred to as peachicks. An entire family of peafowl is referred to as a bevy.
(2) Every year after mating season, peacocks shed their trains.
People can gather their feathers for collection and decoration without causing any harm to the birds. Since peacocks live an average of 20 years, each one produces plenty of feathers over the course of a lifetime.
(3) Peacocks can actually fly.
Their tail feathers, reaching up to six feet long, make it difficult for peacocks to fly for long periods of time or far distances. For this reasons, they are much more comfortable on the ground.
(4) Most peacocks are known for their brilliant green and blue hues.
These colors are created by lightwaves that pass through microscopic parts of their feathers. Although rare, some peafowl are entirely white due to a genetic mutation.
(5) Peafowl were considered a delicacy during Roman times.
The birds were plucked, pruned, roasted, and then re-feathered before being placed on the serving platter. Tongues were an especially important edible part. They allegedly tasted terrible and wreaked havoc on digestive systems, resulting in the discontinuation of their appearance on dining tables. The last recorded meal occurred in 1914, after which time the bird was retired from the menu.
(6) Peafowl survive in the wild for about 15 to 25 years.
Like other wild animals, these birds can succumb to a variety of threats. Some of the most common causes of death include heatstroke, bacterial infections, septicemia, and contagious diseases. They also fall prey to attacks from coyotes. When they live in captivity, peafowl can live from forty to fifty years assuming they cared for properly.
(7) Peacocks nest on the ground and roost in the trees.
Peafowl build their nests on the ground, typically hidden away in dense plants. But when night falls, they fly up into trees to roost, keeping safe from predators. While they can fly, it's usually just for short bursts to reach a higher perch or escape danger.
(8) All-white peafowl are astonishing to witness.
All-white peafowl are stunning, but they're typically not albino. Their striking white feathers are due to a genetic condition called leucism. This mutation reduces or completely prevents pigment from being deposited into their feathers, specifically blocking melanin, which is the dark pigment. The result is their pure white plumage.
(9) There are three different peafowl types.
The three main species of peafowl each presents distinct characteristics. The Indian Peafowl (Blue Peafowl) is the most common and easily recognized type, famous for its brilliant blue and green feathers. The Green Peafowl (Javanese Peafowl), an endangered bird found in Southeast Asia, sports green and gold/bronze plumage. The Congo Peafowl, native to Africa's Congo basin, is smaller and less vibrantly colored compared to its Asian relatives.
More Interesting Animal Facts
Curious kids who love animals will love to explore these fun fact lists about interesting creatures!
