only two types, the real peacock and the head-bearer-peacock, is summarized in this subfamily of the Fasanenartigen. they are among the biggest representatives of the hen-birds.
Real or blue peacock (Pavo cristatus)) From the Hindus for a long time as sacred bird admires, the peacock was proclaimed 1963 the Indian "national-bird." In many sections of its spread-area, it can therefore not be hunted and could widen its habitat considerably. Originally only on the clearings of the dense jungle given a home, it joined more and more the human settlements and the culture-surfaces. Earlier, the "Pfauenfedern" formed an important export, however, the export was prohibited by the Indian government in order not to endanger the birds.
Historical Peacocks were held for a long time time also outside India, from the Egyptian Pharaonen equally like at the yards of the emperors and kings of the European continent. Here, it was not missing on any food-blackboard, until itself it from the new world introduced, more palatable turkey pushed through. The splendid feathers adorned not only the roast (so in the old Rome), also the fashion-creators of all times served themselves its to plentiful extent. Today, they came from the fashion fortunately.
Shape They award the Pfauenhahn (with 92-122 cm body - and 108-133 cm tail-length) to one, tows extended waiter-tail-decks (from over 200 feathers) its typical appearance; also the body-plumage is colored (mainly blue-green) iridescent. The female (86 cm of length) is inconspicuous and tow-loose on the other hand. Both sexes wear a small feather-crown on the vertex.
Way of life The peacocks live in relaxed associations as wildfowl, after the incubation usually separately, in groups of adult males or females, with which it accompanied squabs. they live from plant-seeds (grains) and other fruits, don't spurn also worms and insects and even - to the population's India joy - dare to tackle young cobras along, whose continuance they reduce considerably. Always, the peacocks are near a water, that it visit every morning, in order to drink. They then escape the most severe day-heat in the deep thicket of the jungle. You face and hearing-sense are strongly developed so that they react very finely to disturbances. Often is to be heard far resounding warning-reputation for it, also at night, if they rest in the trees highly above.
Reproduction At the reproductive-time, each cock collects 3-5 females about itself and occupies its territory. Directly after the combination, the hens go according to its brood-business and also rear the squabs alone. An extensive performs courtship display, that is marked above all by the known "wheel-palpitation" of the male, goes ahead the combination. Now, the long waiter-tail-blankets and the tail-feathers (18) are set up to a wheel. The back is turned towards the hen at first and a snow-white "Tuff" from down-good feathers is offered. The cock leaves all feathers erzittern, with what a sharp rustle sounds, repeated. Suddenly, it does a lateral turn and approaches the hen. If it lays down herself, it enters it into the same type as we know it from the chickens.
The nests usually lie at the forest-edge and are hidden under dense hedge. After a brood-duration of 28 days, the chicks hatch from the 5-7 eggs. Densely hidden under the mother's plumage, baumen it already after 14 days common with the mother on low branches on.
Head-bearer-peacock (Pavo muticus)) The second type is just as-big, differs in the coloring, however, that is mainly green, and through a more inferior difference of the sexes. The hen is, with exception this tow, the cock more or less similar. The vertex-crown is composed from feathers with narrow, head-good flags.
The head-bearer-peacock is widespread from Pakistan to west-Burma and hardly differs from the Indian type in its habits. If it so frequently is not held as ornament-bird, this is that it is not perennial in our widths and appears much more aggressive in captivity. Both types let themselves however cruise easily: the so-called Spalding-Pfau. is created
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