Indian+peafowl


 * Indian Peafowl/"Peacock"**
 * Scienific name://Pavo cristatus//**

__**Basic Information:**__

 * **Domain** || Eukaryota ||
 * **Kingdom** || Animalia ||
 * **Phylum** || Chordata ||
 * **Class** || Aves ||
 * **Order** || Galliformes ||
 * **Family** || Phasianidae ||
 * **Genus** || Pavo ||
 * **Species** || Flying birds ||

__Habitat:__
You can find the peafowls in many areas around the world such as, India, Pakistan, Nepla, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Some of these species are newly found now in USA, Australia, and the Bahamas. The indian peafowl can be found in the undergrowth open forest and woodland, usually near a river or stream. Some peafowls are also found in the famland, villages, and some are even increasing even more in the urban areas. They live in moist temperatures or usually during the monsoon weathers. They are often found in the more grassy areas, and they are often found along with other peafowls. Indian Peafowls feed off the grounds seeking seeds, fallen fruits from the trees and insects. Often Peafowls break their diet and eat small rodetns and reptiles on occasion. During the night Peafowls are found on trees where there is less danger. Indian peafowls have regular behaviour they often are in the same feeding locations for life. If a predator is near by the usually escape by foot unless the pressure is high of the peafowl being caught they will be flying in the air to get away. The male Peafowls are the ones with the beautiful tail, they use their tail to catch attention of the female peafowls that are the ones without the beautiful tales. The Indian Peafowls often breed from January to Match in Southern India, and in some parts of its range the latest they breed are in the late September. Before they breed males have their territories known as leks, they go to their leks where they are displayed to find their mates. Female Peafowls usually go to the leks to search the most suitable mate. The female lays as many as 4 to 6 eggs in a shallow ground or in a tree is predation is intense where the eggs lay there for about 28 to 30 days. After the eggs hatch the checks are around for about 7 to 9 weeks and are intially fed from their mother's bill and after they grow they are taught to search for their own food such as insects.



Species Interactions:
Peacock's are omnivore's that eat plants and animals. Peacock's usually eat foods that include grains, insects, small reptiles, small mammals, berries, drupes, wild figs, and some cultivated crops. Indian Peafowl do most of their foraging in the early morning and shortly before sunset. They retreat to the shade and security of the forest for the hottest portion of the day. Top help there feeding startegies the adaptions they have are their sharp beaks to help them collet their foods. They go to rural areas to help them catch there food substances.

Reproduction:
Indian peafowls are polygamous. Males tend to be clumped together during the breading season. They establish their breeding territories in close proximity to one another in a breeding arrangement known as a lek. Visiting females wander through several territories, sometimes making repeated visits, before selecting a male. After mating the male has no more involvement with the female of her young. . The peahen lays 3-6 eggs in a nest concealed in a scrub vegetation. Incubation lasts 28-30 days. The precocial chicks are able to follow their other nearly as soon as they hatch. The peahen will lead them to appropriate feeding areas. The chicks will peck at food items in imitation of their mother and are soon feeding themselves with little parental guidance. The male peacocks are the most beatutiful ones with the pretty feathers, there feathers are there to attract the attention of the female peacocks. The female peacocks have no beautiful feathers, most of them are usually plain. They choose there mate's wisely depending on who looks the strongest, most attractive, and who has the better looking feathers, so their offspring will gain the dominant genes.

Free Topic- Historical Significance:
Peacocks were mentioned in the Greek mythology. It was the bird of Hera, the queen of Gods. One of the myths told of Argus, Hera’s hundred eyes giant whose job t was to spy on Zeus and discover his trysting places. When he discovered Zeus and with maiden Io, Zeus changed Io into a cow to escape Hera’s wrath. One day knowing that Hermes was not going to be able to escape from the 100 eyes giant he began to play a sleepy tune on his flute and one by one the Argus’ eyes closed and he fell asleep. Hermes then cut off his head. When Hera found Argus, she removed his one-hundred eyes and places them on the tail of her favorite bird…the peacock. The peacock was also mentioned in one of Aesop’s fables. In the story, the peacock goes to Juno “(the Roman name for the goddess Hera) and complains that the nightingale has a sweet song and he does not. Juno replied that he has beauty and size. The peacock then asked what good was his beauty without a great voice. Juno Wisely replied that every creature has its gifts and faults, and they should be content with them and who they are.” By the 14th century, peafowl were spread throughout Europe, however they weren't to common and were only owned by the rich and the powerful. Only the early European churches looked upon the peacock as a religious symbol. The Peacock has been and still is held sacred by certain Indian groups. It become the official national bird on India in 1963 and is protected by law in its native habitat. In folk art, peacocks are often painted looking backwards at their tails. Because these feathers are renewed each year, this is considered a symbol for renewal. Cultures around the world often parrots, peacocks, and doves as focal points in the Tree Of Life designs. In Hinduism the peacocks is associated with the goddess Saraswati, a deity representing benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and knowledge. Peacocks are also the mount of the Hindu God of war Murugan. The peacock represents an emblem of love, compassionate, watchfulness, good-will, nurturing, and kind-heartedness. Legend tells us she chose to remain a mortal even though she could be immortal because she wished to stay behind and aid humanity in their spiritual evolution. The peacock also is a ancient symbol of eternal life. The peacock symbolism represents the “all-seeing” church, along with the holiness and sanctity associated with it.