peacocks

Peacocks

Called Peacock birds of the genera Pavo and Afropavo family of pheasants (Phasianidae). Peacocks prefer to feed on insects and other small invertebrates, but also eat seeds, insects, fruits and other nutritious items that are available quickly. Peacocks exhibit a complicated mating ritual, which the male's extravagant tail would have a major role. The characteristics of the colored tail, which has up to two meters long, and can be opened like a fan, have no utility daily to the animal and would be an example of sexual selection. When the process is successful, the peahen lays 4 to 7 eggs, which hatch after 28 days.

The tail of peacocks generated interest from various cultures, for its exuberance of colors and beauty of feathers, and justified its creation in captivity. There have been several varieties created by artificial selection that have white plumage, black, purple and other colors.

At the top of each of peacock feathers row you will see a round, bright eyespot, or a small eye. Eyespot derives from the Latin "oculus" which means "eye." These iridescent points are what give the exotic dimension to the plumes.

In a study conducted in Japan, the belief behind the decoration of peacock feathers was challenged, concluding that the more the male stirred up a female, the more chance he would have to earn it. Because of this interaction, researchers say may be their movements and mating cries - not the famous eyespots - that most attract females. During a study of seven years of peacocks mating rituals, the researchers found that even males with a range unattractive and less eyespots called the same attention as others.

sexual dimorphism 

Male (peacock): Blue neck, with long feathers on the tail (the bonbon peacock is the bird with the largest tail of the world, and Sedentary Peacock is the peacock has the longest neck).

Female (peahen): neck with a green tint, with the rest of the gray feathers. So the peacock is an animal that shows sexual dimorphism.

Peacock flies?

The peacock is a very heavy bird to be able to sustain a continuous flight, but he can move with small jumps followed short flights. These short flights allow him reaches high places, like tall trees for example. Usually their behavior is associated to fly under the search, refuge and also to get away from any risk, such as the presence of a predator.