White (we are NOT albino) Peacocks

By legend, white peacocks are said to bring good luck and eternal happiness. Several Asian countries have the peacock as their national bird (India for one). The name white peacock is also associated with butterflies. Peacocks get their color from light reflection. Their feathers have "barbs" which in turn have "rods". Light reflection produces green, yellow, brown and blue. White peacocks have a slightly different arrangement of the rods and therefore don't get the usual colors and are not albinos as many people think they are.

Peacocks are native to Southern Asia and Malaysia and were kept for centuries in China. The Phoenicians brought the peacock to Egypt more than three thousand years ago. It is reputed that King Solomon kept several peacock species. They were extensively raised by the Romans for the table. When turkeys were imported from Mexico, the peacock was no longer used as a table bird.

Peacocks are believed to be polygamous. The male peacock flares out its feathers when it is trying to attract the female's attention. They are omnivorous and eat plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and small reptiles and amphibians. People all over the world keep and breed peacocks for personal or business reasons. They can also be seen in parks and gardens. They are usually very sociable and easy to keep.

Natural Beauty

White peacocks are frequently mistaken for albinos but are a color variety of the India Blue Peacock. They don't survive long in the wild as their white plumage makes them easily seen by predators. Some people believe if they see a white peacock, they will have eternal happiness. The name white peacock is also associated with butterflies.

According to ancient Greeks, peacocks were the physical representation of Hera, Queen of the Gods. The crest (crown) on the top of their heads gives them a royal appearance. The brilliant colors and decorative "eye" of the peacock's tail feathers are this bird's trademark. An adult peacock's train of feathers can be 60" long and is nearly 60% of it's total length. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays.

Peacocks are ground feeders and hunt for small animals like spiders and amphibians in tall grasses or small streams. They eat plants, flower petals and seed heads. "Peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes although only the males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

In India, the peacock is the national bird and lives in the wild as it does in Sri Lanka. The standard peacock that we see in the United States is the India Blue. There is a jungle peacock which is found in Burma, Malaysia and Java.