interesting facts about peacocks

November 30, 2009 | In: Animal facts for kids

According to history peacocks were brought to Egypt more than three thousand years ago by the Phoenicians.

Peacocks have an average lifespan of twenty years in the wild.

Indian Peacock is the national bird of India.In the wild in India they are a favourite food of leopards and tigers.

Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

Peacocks do not just fan out their tails, they vibrate them too, making a rattling sound and showing off the shimmering colors.

Peacocks get most of their color from light reflection rather than a dye. The feathers have barbs, which in turn have rods. It is these rods that controls how light reflects and produces the green, golden yellow, brown and bright blue.

They generally lay 10-12 eggs.

The end of each train feather boasts what resembles an eye. Scientifically, these are called ocellus.