Peacocks, National Bird of India: a Photo Essay
The Peacocks of Rajasthan sure did make my daughters wake up early in the morning to collect feathers. Rajasthan seems to have the kind of terrain that is hostile, but it is the home for India’s national bird, the Peacock. Here is a short photo essay on peacocks of Rajasthan, the national bird of India.
Wake up Calls by Peacocks of Rajasthan
Through out the drive along the roads of Rajasthan we spotted peacocks moving freely in abundance. Mornings we woke up to the calls of the peacocks “may-awe, may-awe”.
Peafowl (peacocks and peahens) have 11 different calls, but it is the peacocks that really yell. My daughters woke up quite early those days to collect the fallen peacock feathers.
We saw several blue peacocks wandering freely in the hotel properties. However these peacocks were going through a molt, so did not look their best. They shed all their beautiful tail feathers every year and grow new ones.
Peacock bird from Rajasthan a photo essay
In the hotel lawns we saw peacocks forage for plants, insects and small creatures from the ground. They are omnivores. We tried hand feeding them with groundnuts but they were too shy to approach us. Peacocks are friendly birds and here is a proof in pic.
Peacock sharing food with squirrel
The large flowing feathers at their back (more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length) are called the train of feathers. When a peacock is just walking around, his train drags on the ground behind him, like the train on a wedding dress.
India and Sri Lanka is home to the blue peacocks known by the name Indian Peafowl. While in Java and Myanmar you will find the green peacocks. The Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.
3 Factors Why Peacock is National Bird of India
Peacock was declared the national bird of India in 1963. The 3 reasons attributed to this choice are:
- It is widely mentioned in religious, ancient texts, legends and mythological stories of India.
- Peacock bird is well distributed though out the country.
- It is easily recognized by citizens from every part of the country.
Peacocks are so popular that craftsmen use peacock designs and motifs in architecture and fabrics. Check these designs: Peacocks Designs in Indian Architecture
Peacock Crest
The crest acts like a sensor, they vibrate in same frequency with which a peacock rattles its tail feathers. It is said the peahen feels these frequencies in her head.
Peacock head with crest
Humble Peahen
The humble peahen is drab mottled brown in color which helps it to merge with the surroundings and protects while it incubates its eggs. At Jodhpur during a village safari we were lucky to spot a peahen’s nest.
Our guide took us closer, the peahen flew off and we were able to see the eggs. I expected the peahen to attack us but she just stayed away and looked on. I took couple of pictures of the peahen eggs quickly before the mother would change her mind.
Peahens lay three to six eggs in a clutch. Incubation time is 29 days. My daughters wanted to return the next month to see the peafowl chicks. I had to remind them schools would have reopened by then after the vacations.
Peahen – female Peacock, drab brown in color.
Peahen hatching eggs
Peacock eggs
In spite of seeing so many peacocks, peahens and even their eggs I still came back with the disappointment. That was for not being able to see the peacocks using their large train for mating rituals and courtship displays. 🙁
The train arches into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird’s back and touches the ground on either side. Females choose their mates according to the color, quality and size of these hypnotic feather trains.
The sparrow is sorry for the peacock at the burden of his tail.
– Rabindranath Tagore
We spotted a mother peahen with her chick crossing the road. Male peafowls begin to grow tail feathers only after 3 years of age, till then all chicks looks alike.
Peahen and baby peacock crossing the road
Peahen and her chick – Peacocks National Bird Essay
Did you know there is a flower named after this bird? Check: Peacock Flower Photography
Colors of Peacock Feathers
Kids and me, we were mesmerized seeing the peacock bird so close. We could see the vivid peacock colors, the different shades of blue and green. I took peacock pics to my heart’s content, here are some:
Colorful peacock feathers on its back. – Peacocks National Bird Essay
There is an interesting Greek legend why and how peacock birds got their spots:
Beautiful Io was a priestess to Hera, the wife of Zeus. But Zeus took a fancy to Io and turned her into a heifer in order to disguise and protect her from wrath of jealous Hera. (Heifer (in farming) is a cow that has not borne a calf, or has borne only one calf)
Clever Hera came to know of his ruse and tricked Zeus into giving her the heifer/Io as a present. Once she had the heifer in her possession, Hera appointed Argus, a man covered with eyes, to guard Io.
Zeus then sent a minion to rescue the priestess Io, who killed Argus in the process. As a tribute to Argus and his many eyes, Hera bestowed the “eyespot” onto the peacock.
Black and white patterns on peacock wings.
Did you know? Peacock Fun Facts
- Peacocks are the heaviest and biggest birds that can fly, very limited distances though.
- Life span of peacocks is 20 years.
- Peacocks also hold the reputation for loudest calls in the family of birds.
- Groups of peacocks are called a muster, ostentation, or pride.
- In Hindu religion, God of War, Kartikeya, rides on a peacock.
- Peacocks can be domesticated.
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(This post was first written on Oct 16, 2008.)
Fantastic and the one with the eggs in the tree! Wow!
These are fantastic photos! I love peacocks – I think they are some of the most beautiful creatures ever.
Pictures are as beautiful as the birds..!!
All these years was under the impression that it’ll be camels
moving along the roads there! Oho, it’s PCs is it?
Drab peahens…! Not able to understand God’s mysterious
ways… in changing that logic while manufacturing ladyfolks :))))
Interesting to note that peahens prefer ‘style’ to ‘substance’..!!!
(color, quality and size of these hypnotic feathers….)
hmmm… can see that those peacocks are smart. Must’ve waited
until you left, for the dance ritual – probably not wanting to risk being reported in the blog
for peahen-teasing :))))
Such majestic birds! Beautiful photos that you captured! Thank you for stopping by earlier 🙂
Nice, peacock is one of my favourite birds. Nice shots!
Great shots! It’s nice to learn more about such beautiful birds.
Beautiful birds they are..
and do they dance with full plumage to the rains too?
and I wonder as children from where we got the idea to keep their feathers between our books so that they reproduce!
Beautiful photos and a learning experience at the same time. 🙂
What a gorgeous birds! love the color.
Good pictures, nice commentary too 🙂
wishes!
devika
beautiful pics and informative post
WOW! Such beautiful birds! I love the first shot the most:) Mine is posted HERE. Happy CC!~
Beautiful! I have had opportunity to see a few peacocks this year and they have not been so kind as to show me their lovely tails either! Mean little peacocks. 🙂
Such beautiful birds, well captured.
Peacocks are such gorgeous birds. Fantastic shots!
I’ve always thought of peacocks as magestic birds.
I enjoyed reading your narrative about these wonderful birds.
Nice images!
Peacocks are cool, aren’t they?
Thanks for visiting me 🙂
Wow it’s amaxing to think of seeing them just wandering around like that. Beautiful.
very cool!
peacocks are such beautiful birds. great photos!
thanks for visiting us, too!
I love that colour blue! This bird is so perfect! The call of the peacock is very strange and not what one would expect of a bird like that, Thanks for your visit.
magnificent
Peacocks are such beautiful birds. You’re right, its hard to catch one with its tail spread in courtship.
I love the royal blue that the peacocks are adorned with. Good post Indrani and good to see you back safe!
They are the most gorgeous birds among bird species. Before I thought these are mythical bird until I have seen it in animal park here. Now I know it is your national bird..Beautiful..
excellent tribute to this paradise bird
Great photo’s. They are beautiful even without the big fan up. Some things are better left to the imagination…
lovely pics..I remember seeing so many of them in jaipur and udaipur as well..of late I have seen so many in Tamil nadu and karnataka, particularly near madurai where they were screaming away
P. S.
I too am sorry you did not get the benefit of the full plumage.
Great that you got close-up shots of even the next generation. In the Sulur campus, the birds were seen aplenty, in groups at that, but I have come away with only memories!
Nice pictures, lovely peacocks. Just look at the partisanship of nature – the male is so bright and colourful, and the female, as you aptly describe it, drab!
Very beautiful bird !
Great shots, yeah !
Gorgeous birds.. regardless of full plumage or not. I just love the blue neck. Good captures and fine details.
hi,
I recently launched a photo meme for black & white photos. I wish you can visit me at monochromeday
Thanks