Indian Peafowl (Blue Peafowl)

Adult males (peacocks) feature a brilliant iridescent blue neck and breast, fan-like crest with bare-shafted feathers, and an elongated train of covert feathers adorned with iridescent 'eyes'. Females (peahens) are smaller with mottled brown, green, and whitish plumage, designed for camouflage while nesting.

Brilliant blue neck, fan-shaped crest, naked white face patch around the eye, and the massive train of patterned eyespots in males.

Length: Males 100-115 cm (excluding train up to 215 cm), Females 86 cm. Wingspan: 130-160 cm. Weight: Males 4-6 kg, Females 2.7-4 kg.

Loud, piercing, trumpeting calls often described as a harsh 'may-awe' or 'keow-keow', frequently uttered at dawn or dusk and when alarmed.

Omnivorous; feeds on seeds, grains, insects, fruits, small reptiles, and amphibians by foraging on the ground.

Found in deciduous forests, scrublands, farmlands, and cultivated areas, usually near water.

Non-migratory resident.

Ground nesters; builds a shallow scrape lined with leaves, sticks, and grass in dense undergrowth. Clutch size is typically 4-8 pale buff eggs, incubated solely by the female for about 28 days.

Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), which features greener plumage and a different neck pattern, found in Southeast Asia.

Acts as both predator and prey in its ecosystem, helping control insect and small vertebrate populations while serving as food for larger carnivores.

Least Concern (LC) with a stable or increasing population trend.

Look and listen for them in open forests, agricultural lands, and around human settlements, particularly near water sources. They are often bold and accustomed to human presence in parks and rural areas.

Despite their massive trains, peacocks can fly up into trees to escape predators and sleep at night. The 'eyes' on the train are made of intricate microscopic lattice structures that refract light to create iridescent colors.