peafowl
Sign in to savePeafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus Pavo and one species of the closely related genus Afropavo within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens. Despite this, peacock is usually used to refer to both sexes, in common language.
AI overview
Peafowl are large, colorful birds belonging to the pheasant family, with three species found across two closely related genera. The males, called peacocks, are famous for their striking appearance and elaborate plumage, though the term "peacock" is commonly used to describe both males and females in everyday language.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
25 sectionsContents
- Description
- Iridescence and structural coloration
- Courtship
- Evolution
- Sexual selection
- Aposematism and natural selection
- Female choice
- Plumage colours as attractants
- Redundant signal hypothesis
- Behaviour
- Diet
- Cultural significance
- Indian peafowl
- Middle East
- Yazidism
- Mandaeism
- Ancient Greece
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Renaissance
- Contemporary
- Breeding and colour variations
- Gastronomy
- References
- Further reading
Peafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus Pavo and one species of the closely related genus Afropavo within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens. Despite this, peacock is usually used to refer to both sexes, in common language.
The two Asiatic species are the blue or Indian peafowl originally from the Indian subcontinent, and the green peafowl from Southeast Asia. The third peafowl species, the Congo peafowl, is native only to the Congo Basin. Male peafowl are known for their piercing calls and their extravagant plumage. The latter is especially prominent in the Asiatic species, which have an eye-spotted "tail" or "train" of covert feathers, which they display as part of a courtship ritual.