Peacocks are one of the most beautiful bird species that stand out because of their magnificent feathers.
These land birds possess microscopic ‘crystal-like structures’, which tend to reflect various wavelengths of light based on their spacing.
Although it is quite rare to see these birds in the United States, a zoo is a common place to spot these beauties.
Here are 5 peacock species you can come across in Hawaii.
1. Great Argus Peafowl
Although The Great Argus is not as colorful as other peacocks, it is one of the world’s most remarkable peacocks.
This beautiful brown-plumaged ground bird has a blue neck and head, black hair-like feathers, and red legs.
These peacock species enjoy passing the time in the trees. For these birds, a good tree is usually a relaxing spot.
The Great Argus is known for its solitary nature. They only interact with other species members during the breeding season.
During its breeding season, the male of The Great Argus announces himself to the female with a loud call. This call is usually done to attract a female.
Also, when the male species wishes to mate with a female, it is customary for him to prepare a dancing ground, where he displays his amazing dance moves as a means of attracting the female peacock.
Usually, they perform this dance for a peahen to show off their magnificent tail feathers.
The size of this bird is incredible. It is one of the largest pheasants on the planet.
Males weigh about 2.04-2.72 kg and measure 260-200 cm in length. Females are significantly smaller than males, weighing 1.59-1.7kg and measuring 72-76 cm in length.
Males have extremely long tail feathers and large wing feathers that have large eyespots.
Females, on the other hand, have duller skin color than males; they also have shorter tails and fewer eyespots.
2. Asian Peafowl
The Asian peafowls are commonly found in India, Asia, and Sri Lanka. In these nations, they are still frequently found in the wild.
However, despite frequently being wild birds, they are easily domesticated. This peacock is special due to its lovely appearance.
It has stunning feathers that stand out due to its vibrant colors.
In addition to being adorable, they are huge birds with attractive tails.
The Asian peafowl’s average male height is between 100 and 115 cm, while the average female height is 90cm.
Just like other Peacocks, the females aren’t as brightly colored as the males.
The Asian peafowl is a forest bird that roosts in trees but builds its nests on the ground.
The males make loud noises and show off their feathers during the mating season to attract a mate.
It’s interesting to note that these birds use the flagging of their feathers to also frighten off potential predators.
This gives them a large appearance, which scares their potential predators.
Another remarkable feature of this peafowl is its long-life span.
These Peacocks live for 10 to 25 years on average. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it? In general, they eat fruits, plants, and insects.
But you can feed domesticated peafowl foods like cheese, bread, corn, rice, and others. Their diet should also include more fruits, vegetables, and proteins to promote growth.
3. Green Peacocks
These peacocks are distinguished by their brilliant green color.
They are also known as Javanese peacocks and live primarily in the wild forest. These birds frequently build their nests in the ground.
Green peasants are omnivores, which means they eat small animals such as worms, ants, termites, and other insects.
Their diet also includes grains and plants.
These birds are easily confused with the Indian peacock due to their similarities.
They both have brightly colored feathers, but green Peacocks have a shorter tail than Indian Peacocks.
Furthermore, the green feathers on their heads and necks set them apart.
There are many similarities between the male and female green peacocks.
One of their most striking similarities is that they both have a long upper tail, which serves as a cover for their actual tail.
In contrast to their male counterparts, the females have a duller color. Furthermore, the females have a smaller tail, a more coppery neck, and less iridescence.
The green peafowl begins their mating journey in the spring.
During this time, the male displays his amazing green-colored feathers to the females, who can choose whether or not to be with him.
Females are usually drawn to male pheasants that are brightly colored. A large male peacock has a better chance because these females prefer healthy-looking peacocks.
This southern Asian peacock can grow to be about 3 meters long and 5 kilograms wide. While females are typically 100-110 cm tall, males are typically 2-3 meters tall.
Here is an article I wrote on parrots in Arizona
4. Malayan Peacock-pheasant
This peacock belongs to the Galliform family Phasianidae and is also referred to as the crested peacock-pheasant.
This species of peacock is renowned for moving quietly through the lowland rainforest.
In comparison to other peacock species, this peacock is rather small.
The adult male measures about 58cm in length, and the females are marginally smaller than the males.
This bird has blue-green eyespots and pale brown feathers. The females don’t have the same bright brown plumage as the males.
The facial skin on the males is more vividly red, they appear thickset, and they have an unusually forward-pointing crest.
Baby Malayan peacock pheasants (including males and females) look just like adult females. However, at their young stage, their eyespots are not yet fully developed.
Malayan peacock-pheasant feed on different types of insects, slugs, seeds, berries, and fruits.
5. Purple Indian Peafowl
These peacock species are relatively rare to see.
So, if you see one, you should take lots of pictures. This bird is very similar to the India Blue Peahen.
However, the India Blue Peacock has green feathers on the back of its neck, whereas the Purple Indian Peacock has purple feathers.
A major feature of these fascinating birds is that they cannot go unnoticed. It’s unusual to see a purple-colored animal, and this makes them stand out.
Their purple coloration makes them appear to be Peacock royalty. Males use this stunning royal color to entice a peahen.
Their mating ritual would also leave you amazed. Males are known to flaunt their beautiful feathers around females to attract the peahen.
Females, on the other hand, have the right to select their preferred male. She chooses the male based on the brightness of his color and his size.
Typically, purple peachicks resemble their adult females quite closely. At their juvenile stage, it can be challenging to tell a male from a female.
Nonetheless, the males can be distinguished once the wing barring appears. Furthermore, their light brown feathers make them almost identical to cameo peachicks.
These birds, like other Peacocks, are omnivores and eat a variety of insects, small reptiles, and other things.
Conclusion
Peacocks are one of the most amazing animals on the planet.
These ground birds are well-known for their stunning feathers. Interestingly, different species of these birds exist around the world.
Peacocks are generally more colorful than peahens.
Furthermore, in comparison to males, peahens are shorter and smaller. The males use their colorful feathers to attract a female partner.
The Great Argus Peacock performs incredible dance moves that he uses to attract a female partner.
