Peacocks are big male birds that fly less and move more on their sturdy legs. They have slender blue necks and shiny green or blue long tail feathers covered with crescent like signs in gold and green, and tipped with a pattern like an eye. The feathers covering the base of the quills in the bird grow long. The peacock’s feathers are attached to the lower part of its back and not to its tail. The tail acts as support only to the feathers.  Peacocks have the longest tail feathers of any bird-1.5 metres.

Peacocks eat fruits, flowers, seeds, grass, leaves and small living things like snails, frogs, insects and even snakes. They live near water bodies because they are troubled much by heat. But they never enter deep into the water as they do not know swimming. They settle or sleep in trees at night. They have very sharp eyesight.

Early in the morning the peacock stars calling in a harsh tone. It’s piercing cry sounds like an angry cat. Through continuous calls the bird expresses its feelings.  Clouds induce the peacock to dance. By seeing the clouds the vocal cords of peacock get a particular lubricating effect and it bursts forth in a chorus of harsh croaky calls. When the bird dances, it spreads its beautiful tail like an arch. 

We generally believe that the peacock displays its feathers when it rains. But the real fact is not so. The beautiful bird displays its beautiful feathers to attract the female-the peahen during its mating season which falls in rainy season. The peahens have short tails, and much duller feathers than the males. They are not so attractive like their males, the peacocks. They lay their clutch of eggs once a year between January and October. The peacock on seeing the peahen opens out its charming feathers and dances to make the peahen feel that he is very handsome and attractive.

Peacock is now found in many parts of Asia and Europe, and in some parts of Europe and America. They were taken to Europe and America from Asia. The peacock was worshipped in ancient Iran. In ancient China the peacock worship was also very popular. But the most typical habitat of the peacocks is India. They were introduced into ancient Greece and Rome by Alexander the Great after his invasion of India. 

Peacock has been considered as a sacred bird in Indian civilization from the very Vedic age and Ramayan and Mahabharat days.  Kartikeya, the son of Lord Siva found on peacock, which is his vehicle for carrying him from place to place.  Lord Krishna used to adorn his hair with peacock feathers. In ancient India people worshipped the beautiful bird in many ways. Even now in many temples of India the priests carry a peacock fan in order to provide divine blessings to the devotees.  In many ceremonies a bundle of the long feathers of peacock is used as a part of the worshipping.

Our ancient Indian history has given a prominent place to the handsome bird-peacock. The mighty Maurayan emperors ruling India during 300 B.C. named their Maurya dynasty after the name of this bird. The word for peacock in Sanskrit is ‘Mayur’ and from this word the name ‘Maurya’ is derived. The picture of peacock is found embossed on the coins of the Mauryan period.  The Mughals admired the peacock for its dignity and grace. In our country peacocks are found in many parts. They live in plenty in Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The peacock, thus, holds a prominent place in the kingdom of birds. The beautiful bird has a distinct and noteworthy place in the legends, literature, folklores and love songs of the country. This is why the pretty bird was adopted as the National Bird of India in 1963.