Peacocks and Peahens
1Peafowl are large birds. The best-known kind first came from the forests of India and Sri Lanka. Today, many also live in parks and gardens around the world. A male is called a peacock, a female is a peahen, and a baby is a peachick.
2The peacock is famous for his colorful feathers. His neck and chest are a shiny blue. Behind him trails a long train of shimmering green feathers. Many of these feathers have a round spot near the tip that looks like an eye.
3When a peacock wants to impress a peahen, he lifts his train and spreads it into a giant fan. Then he shakes it so the feathers make a soft rattling sound. It is quite a show! If the peahen is unimpressed, she simply walks away.
4Unlike the peacock, the peahen has mostly brown and gray feathers. Her dull colors are useful. When she sits on her eggs on the ground, she is hard to see, so she stays safe.
5Once a year, a peacock loses his long train feathers. They fall out a few at a time, and it does not hurt him. Over many months, a brand-new set slowly grows in.
6Peafowl are not quiet birds. Their loud calls can be heard far away, and some neighbors dislike the noise. At night, peafowl fly up into tall trees to sleep. Up high, they are safe from many hungry animals that hunt on the ground at night.