Book 11, Question 6
Why Do Peacocks Have Such Fancy Feathers?
A peacock's fancy train is a signal to peahens! A healthy male can grow a bigger, brighter train, so it tells her, I am strong. Peahens usually choose the males with the best displays.
More fun facts
- A peacock's famous train is made of long upper tail feathers and can be about 1.7 meters (5 feet) long.
- Only the male peafowl, the peacock, has the giant colorful train.
- When displaying, a peacock spreads and shakes his train while the sun lights up its red, blue and green.
- The number of eyespots and the length of the train grow between ages four and 12, so they may show a male's age.
- Scientists found that the crest feathers on a peafowl's head vibrate during displays.
Sources: Smithsonian, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
Who is the peacock showing off for?
The peahen, the female, watches as he shakes his train.