The Eyes Have It

The male peacock or Indian peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green colored plumage with a tail or train that is not the tail quill feathers... more

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

The Eyes Have It

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture/faa Watermark Will Not Be On Your Finished Photograph.

Description

The male peacock or Indian peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green colored plumage with a tail or train that is not the tail quill feathers themselves, but highly elongated upper tail cover feathers. The "eyes" in the tail are best seen when the peacock fans its tail like a deck of cards. Similar to a cupped hand behind the ear, the erect tail-fan of the male helps direct sound to the birds ears. The female (peahen) Indian Peafowl has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. She lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male but has a crest. The female can also display her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young.

The Green Peafowl appears different from the Indian Peafowl. The male has green and gold plumage and has an erect crest and both birds have a crest atop their head. The wings are black with a colored sheen of blue. Unlike the Indian Peafowl, the Green Peahen is similar to the male, only having shorter upper tail covers and less iridescence.

This bird was running down the path at the Waimea Arboretum And Botanical Garden on O'ahu when I almost stumbled over it...

Image copyright 2013 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

March 3rd, 2013