National Bird

 

National Bird of India: The Indian Peacock

The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, 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 Indian Peacock (A Brief History)

Peacocks originated in South Asia and came to India during the Buddha's time. They were created to be pollinators, as the birds provided a habitat for a plethora of butterfly species, like the Adonis Yellow.

Our Cultural Connections With The Peacock

India is home to a very diverse variety of peacocks, from colorful and vibrant species to dwarf versions. While there are several species in India, the Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus cristatus) is considered the national bird.

The yellow peafowl, also known as the green peafowl, was first bred in India as part of a breeding programme in the early 20th century by the zoologist, Wilfred Edwin Boughton. The new breed was known as the Indian peacock and is found in all major Indian cities and small towns.

The Colors of the Indian Peacock

The plumage of the Indian peacock is camouflaged with various shades of orange, yellow, green, and brown. The outer parts of the feathers, which are usually rich in melanin, give a silvery appearance, while the under parts are often pale yellow.

The giant Swans are most widely distributed in Central Europe.

The caribou, Alces alces, is found only in Arctic regions such as the Yukon in Canada. The large size of the Canadian herds and the extreme cold make them an example of a truly global species.

What Do Peacocks Eat?

The Indian Peacock’s diet is fruit, seeds and nuts. A favourite is the Pandan fruit, a South East Asian endemic, although sometimes the bird also eats whatever they can reach, including carrion. In November, when coconut palms are ready to harvest, the female peahens use their long necks to squeeze into the treetops, where the males meet them. They dig in to the unopened fruit to extract the heart, and fertilise it. The birds can live for up to 50 years, and their nestlings are sometimes raised by the parents alone.

What Do The Peacocks Sing?

Peacocks sing a long series of complex, drawn out warbling notes. These are three-part vocalisations, a sequence of up to six different notes. The male typically sings the higher, faster note.

What other animals do peacocks like to live near?

South African waxwings are also amongst the best known of the Peacock family. In contrast with their Indian cousins, the South African species lacks the massive crest and, instead, has a distinctive ring of bold red feathers round its eyes.

Birds of Paradise

There are two species of birds of paradise in the Indian order: the Pink-headed Parrot and the Common Peacock-Pavo cristatus.

Birds of Paradise are known for their brightly coloured plumage and colourful displays.

Peacocks of South America: Peacock-Birds of Paradise

Peacocks in South America have even fewer similarities to the Indian species than the Indian species has to the South American Peacock-Birds of Paradise.

Why are other birds jealous of the peacock?

It’s named the national bird because its magnificent plumage is very showy, it is both brightly coloured and totally brilliantly white. It was brought to India as an exotic bird in the time of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and has since acquired a very distinctive appearance, completely different to any other bird in India.

What does the peacock eat?

Peacocks are the only bird in India that eat the fruits of teak trees. They don’t survive on seeds alone; they take off their tails, then pick up and suck the juice out of the fallen fruits. They then throw the seeds over to their chicks. The chicks then have the seed coated with an insipid secretion so that the fruits can be swallowed whole. It is thought that the feathers are used to make brooms for their owners.

"The Pride of India" is a fitting title for India's National Bird

The bird is named after its ancient namesake, the peacock, and the name "pavo" comes from Latin "pes", which in turn came from "pequenia" and means “as white as a peacock”.

The national bird of China - Red-Crowned

The national bird of China is the red-crowned crane. The red-crowned crane is a graceful bird that is native to China. They are known for their beautiful mating dance, where males and females weave in and out of the sky together in a display of affection. The red-crowned crane has been known to live up to 50 years in the wild, and are the largest flying birds in Asia.

National bird of new zealand

The national bird of New Zealand is the kiwi. Kiwi are flightless birds related to the ostrich. The males are brown, while the females and juveniles are gray and white. Kiwi have large, curved beaks, and are the only birds in the world with nocturnal vision; they are also the only birds that can fly with their feet turned backwards.

Bangladesh national bird

The national bird of Bangladesh is the Magpie Robin. It is a small, songbird with a black and white body and an orange face. It is not native to Bangladesh but was introduced to the country from India and has thrived in the climate and environment. The Magpie Robin is a very common bird in Bangladesh and can be found in most parts of the country