Counting on Africa
Educational Childrens Books Publisher
Peafowl
With a spectacular splash of iridescent blue and a train of feathers tipped with glowing "eyes," the peafowl is a dazzling sight. While these birds originally come from the forests of Southeast Asia, they have made themselves wonderfully at home in many parts of Southern Africa. Long ago, they were brought to the region and released on large estates and farms. They liked it so much that they decided to stay! Now, you can often spot them strutting through gardens, parks, and farms, where their loud, echoing "may-aw" calls are a familiar sound.
They strut and fan their famous tails not just to look beautiful, but to impress the females, who are called peahens and wear a more subtle, dusty brown outfit for hiding in the grass.
DID YOU KNOW?
Peas In A Pod
The correct name for the spectacular male blue bird with the giant tail is a peacock; the brown bird is a peahen; and together, they are called peafowl. A group of them is called a "party" or an "ostentation"!
A Tall Tail
Those incredibly long, beautiful tail feathers are not the peacock's tail at all! They are actually long feathers growing from his back, called a "train." His real tail is short and stiff, and it works like a hidden fan-holder to lift and support the heavy train during his famous display.
Shake & Rattle
When a peacock fans out his spectacular long feathers, they can create a special low-frequency rumble that humans cannot hear. The vibrations from this secret sound are so powerful that they can make the feathers of a nearby peahen shiver, helping to really get her attention!
Male peacocks only exhibit their bright colours during the breeding season.
The "tail" of a peacock is actually called a "train".
Peacocks are actually pheasants and are farm animals.
Male peacocks only exhibit their bright colours during the breeding season.
