The male bird that is most well known for having extravagant, colorful tail feathers is the peacock. The peacock’s tail feathers, called a “train,” are made up of elongated uppertail covert feathers that can number over 200. When the peacock fans out its train into a distinctive circular shape, the effect is stunning and draws attention from potential mates. The vibrant colors, eye-like patterns, and sheer size of a peacock’s tail feathers make this bird truly unique in the animal kingdom. No other male bird possesses such an elaborate and conspicuous display structure. The ornate tail feathers of the peacock have captivated humans for centuries and cemented the peacock’s reputation as an icon of beauty, showmanship, and pride.
Description of a Peacock’s Tail Feathers
The tail feathers that give peacocks their magnificence are called rectrices, with the train itself consisting of over 150 elongated uppertail covert feathers. These feathers emerge vertically alongside the true rectrices from the bird’s rump. The uppertail coverts can measure up to 63 inches in length, dwarfing the relatively short true rectrices. The train makes up approximately 60 percent of a peacock’s total body length. Female peafowl lack a train entirely and have modest gray and brown plumage.
The surface of each train feather is decorated with vivid “eyespot” markings. These eyespots have an iridescent, green-blue center that is surrounded by rings of other colors like maroon, yellow, and brown. The distinctive eyespots serve to intimidate rivals and attract mates. When a peacock shakes its train, the eyespots appear to flicker and flash. Directly above the eyespots are ocelli, which are small spots ringed with iridescent blues, purples, and greens. The end tip of each feather sports a decorative mouth-shaped mark with teeth-like fringes. This paintbrush-like tip imitates the head of a serpent when the train is fanned.
Colors
While mainly covered in iridescent blues and greens, peacock tail feathers can display a stunning rainbow of colors. The main colors and pigments are:
- Iridescent blues and greens: Structural coloration caused by light interference on the feather surface. The hue varies depending on the viewing angle.
- Bronze and purple: Created by the melanin pigment melanoidin.
- Maroon and brown: Created by the melanin pigment eumelanin.
- Yellow: Created by the carotenoid pigment lutein.
The combination of structural colors and pigments allows peacock feathers to shimmer and shift in various lighting conditions. This helps ensure maximum visibility.
Development
Peacock chicks hatch with gray down feathers and minimal ornamentation. As the birds mature, their adult plumage starts growing in at around 3 months of age. However, males do not achieve full train development until approximately age 3. The length and brilliance of the train continues improving each subsequent molt. The train feathers emerge from the peacock’s rump in paired rows up to around age 2. After this point, single feathers are added to the middle at each molt to increase density. This protracted development ensures that only the most mature males can sport a complete, eye-catching train.
Functions
The magnificent plumage of the peacock serves several important functions related to reproduction:
Attracting Mates
The primary purpose of the peacock’s elaborate feathers is to attract females for mating. The train acts as an advertisement of the male’s fitness and superior genes. The iridescent colors, bold patterns, length, and sheer number of feathers demonstrate that the male has the resources and vitality needed to not only survive but flourish. Females preferentially choose to mate with males that have the most vibrant, symmetrical, and expansive trains. In fact, peahens have been found to favor males with trains comprising around 150 feathers.
Intimidating Rivals
In addition to enticing peahens, a peacock’s splendid tail feathers act as a warning signal to competing males. The train announces that its owner is strong, dominant, and not to be challenged. When confronted by a rival, a male peacock will tilt its train vertically to appear more imposing. This display behavior often discourages conflicts from escalating into dangerous fights.
Signaling Readiness
Peacocks also use their trains to indicate their readiness to mate. When ready to court peahens, the male erects its feathers into a complete, circular fan shape. It then struts around while vibrating its feathers to maximize the shimmering effect. This visual and auditory display lets females in the vicinity know that the male is prepared for breeding.
Comparisons with Other Birds
While the peacock’s train is unmatched in sheer grandeur, other bird species also possess elaborate plumage used to attract mates. Some examples include:
Birds of Paradise
This family is named for the dramatic and peculiar beauty of the males’ feathers. Birds of paradise flaunt colorful plumes, gracefully long flank plumes, and unique filaments. Famous species include the twelve-wired bird of paradise with its dozen wire-like tail feathers and the magnificent bird of paradise with its iridescent blue cape.
Quetzals
These neotropical birds grow streaming tail feathers up to three feet long. Male resplendent quetzals display vibrant greens, blues, reds and golds. Their extraordinarily long uppertail coverts trail dramatically behind them when flying.
Hummingbirds
Many hummingbird species, like the Andean cockett, have brightly colored, iridescent plumage. Specialized tail feathers called rectrices reflect light and shine vividly during mating displays. Males may also sport crests and gorgets to woo females.
Grebes
Grebes perform elaborate mating rituals that showcase specialized feather tufts, ruffs, crests, and other ornaments. Examples include the eared grebe with its golden feather puffs and the horned grebe with its flashy auricular feather tufts.
Grouse
Male grouse grow specialized feathers during breeding season to appeal to females. Tail feathers may be long and lyre-shaped or fanned. Bright colors around the eyes, necks and air sacs also help attract mates. Famous examples are the capercaillie, the greater prairie chicken and the sage grouse.
Significance in Human Culture
The extravagance of the peacock has captivated humans across cultures for millennia. They are featured prominently in myths, art, and royalty:
Ancient Mythology
– In Greek mythology, the “eyes” in peacock feathers symbolized the all-seeing eyes of the goddess Hera.
– Peacocks pulled the chariot of the Greek goddess Hera.
– In Babylonian myth, the peacock was associated with resurrection and eternal life.
Religion
– Peacocks represent immortality and rebirth in Christianity. They are often depicted in religious manuscripts and tomb art.
– In Buddhism, the peacock symbolizes wisdom and openness due to its ornate tail and enigmatic eyespots.
– In Hinduism, the peacock epitomizes divinity and royalty. The god Krishna wears a crown of peacock feathers.
Culture
– The peacock was a royal symbol in ancient China and was embroidered on imperial robes.
– In Japan, samurai helmets were ornamented with peacock feathers to indicate rank and status.
– Peacock motifs were widely used in the Byzantine Empire to convey imperial authority.
– Medieval European nobility wore peacock-feather headdresses as a status symbol.
Art
– Peacocks were a popular subject in Roman floor mosaics. The most famous is the Unswept Floor mosaic in the Vatican.
– Peacocks frequently appeared in illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Kells and Oriental carpets.
– The peacock inspired shades like peacock blue and peacock green, which were used in Renaissance paintings.
– Peacock symbolism continues in modern art, such as in James McNeil Whistler’s famous Peacock Room.
– Fashion designers like Alexander McQueen draw inspiration from peacock feathers to develop Avant Garde looks.
Conclusion
The peacock’s iridescent tail feathers stand out as the most spectacular ornamentation in the avian world. While other birds have elaborate displays for attracting mates, none compare to the sheer size, brilliant colors, and ornamental “eye” patterns of the peacock’s train. Male peacocks rely on substantial, shimmering trains to woo peahens, intimidate rivals, and advertise their fitness. Their fantastical feathers have captured the human imagination and appeared prominently in myths, religion, art, and culture across civilizations. For millennia, the peacock’s tail has defined this bird as an icon of vitality, pride and transcendent beauty. When it comes to avian extravagance, the peacock reigns supreme.