Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants typically blue and green and known for their iridescent tails. Many people ask if peacocks are birds of paradise, to which the answer is no – a bird of paradise belongs to a totally seperate family of birds.
These tail feathers of the peacock, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the birds total body length and boast colorful “eye” markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues.
The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird’s back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.