Geographical distribution: Found in various localities of India. Eocene to Recent.
Habit and habitat: It inhabits dense scrub, jungle and forest, well provided with rivers and streams. They are shy birds. They feed on grains and vegetable shoots and often do severe harm to newly sown seeds. They also eat small reptiles and insects. It makes nests on the ground.
Comments:
1. Commonly called Pea-fowl or Peacock. In Hindi it is called Mor or Mayur.
2. It displays a well-marked sexual dimorphism.
3. Body divided into head, neck, back, breast and abdomen.
4. Head contains beak and eyes.
5. Male bird is beautifully pigmented with fans-shaped crest; brilliant metallic blue head, neck and breast; with long trailing bronze green upper tail coverts ending in shining blue green purple bronze eyes or ocellate.
6. Tail measures 1.5 meters in length.
7. Female is duller having lower neck metallic green instead of blue as in male, and lacks the ornamented tail.
8. Feet adapted for scratching and running. Hind legs contain a spur.
Special features: The dance of the peacock with its gorgeous tail coverts spread like a fan is very famous. It dances especially on a cloudy and rainy day. It also produces ugly shrieking sound may-awe in morning, evening, moonlight and on cloudy days. It is the national bird of India.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
