Indian Peacock

The Indian peacock/peafowl,Pavo cristatus (Linnaeus), the national bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck.

The peacock is widely found in the Indian sub-continent from the south and east of the Indus river, Jammu and Kashmir, east Assam, south Mizoram and the whole of the Indian peninsula. The peacock enjoys immense protection.

The Indian Peacock has iridescent blue-green plumage. The upper tail coverts on its back are elongated and ornate with an eye at the end of each feather. These are the Peacock's display feathers.

Ancient kings in India were said to have gardens to raise peacocks where guests were invited to see the famous male peacock dance during the mating season. Due to this close proximity to humans for thousands of years, they have entered ancient Indian stories, songs and poems as symbols of beauty and poise.
One can find peacock feathers on sale in most of the tourist attraction in India, especially in south India. Hand fan's, wall hangings and many other articles made of peacock feathers are available for sale. Poaching of peacocks for their feathers and poisoning by feeding seeds treated with poison are known threats to wild birds. Under the law, collection of tail feathers is allowed only when the bird sheds them.

Please do not buy articles made of peacock feather's and encourage people who kill these beautiful birds for its feathers. Peacock is fully protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act

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