Black Peacocks or Peafowls, Facts and Habitat 

The peacock species is originally from the Indian subcontinent. It is the national bird of India. They are one of the most attractive birds on earth, they capture everyone’s attention because of their vibrant color combination. They look like natural artwork by the divine. Peacocks are colorful creatures, they can be seen in blue, turquoise, green, and white colors. In these colorful peacocks, there exists a special and rare kind of them and it is Black Peacocks. 

There is a great discussion on the existence of black peacocks. Research says that full black peacocks and peahens don’t exist. But peacocks with black shoulders are seen and these black shoulder peacocks are called Black peacocks. This rare breed of peacocks is the result of genetic mutation. With no surprise their motherland is India. 

In a rush of vibrant colored peach green and blue peacocks, black peacocks capture the attention of people. They stand out with their shiny black color. The black color is known for mystery and elegance. So, these black peacocks have a mysterious aura that captures the attention of viewers. They are not black from head to toe, but this color can only be seen on their shoulders. Black color is in their wings and back too but the feathers can vary in color.  

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Discovery of Black Peacock

The black peacock was first spotted in Karnataka (an Indian state) by the residents of Bidar. They reported jet-black peacocks roaming their fields. Some more black peacocks have been seen in the villages of Bidar. These villages are Chandigarh and Chatnala. According to an Indian report, only 600 black peacocks are found in total. The director of BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) did a campaign to find Black peafowls in India. He claimed their existence in Rajasthan, Gujrat, and Rolla Padhu too. 

The researchers have observed them keenly and made plans for future research on this rare species. As Black peafowls are less in count, the main focus of the research team is to ensure their survival in the long run. This research is based on shifting them to a better place with an improved environment for their growth. This is a mandatory step for their safety and future. 

Physical appearance of Black Peacock

It’s obvious from the name that the color of the peacocks is black. But the real question is, do they have a complete black body? And what do they look like in their appearance? 

Well, black peacocks are the same in looks as other peacocks, their size and body structure are the same. They have a long tail which is more commonly known as a train. The difference is in color from other peacocks. Other peacocks have vibrant color combinations like green, blue, and golden while black peacock’s colour ranges from dark brown to shiny black.

Black peacocks have nightly black-colored feathers. Their full body is not in black. They have black shoulders and wings. They do not conceive of this black color by nature. They get these black shoulders as a result of genetic mutation. If someone says he sees a peacock with a full black body. Most probably he is mistaken or he might be deceived by colour. Black peacocks leave a mesmerizing impact when they open their feathers in the air. In the daytime, when sunlight reflects on their shiny black wings in the body, a dreamy view can be seen with blessed eyes. 

They are rare species and less in numbers so their survival and production growth is a big issue. It is assumed that a black peafowl can be produced with the matting of the same black female partner. But the reality is, there are chances of black peafowl birth but it is not guaranteed that the baby peafowl will be black or in another color because of genetics. 

Difference between Black male and female Peafowl

This beautiful bird species is called peafowl. Peacocks are the males of peafowls and peahens are females. They have some genetic hormonal differences for obvious reasons. But you can spot the difference between male and female peafowls in subtle variation. The main difference you will notice is their beautiful extravagant tail that is known as a train. It is said that their train plays a part in attracting their potential mating partner. In their mating season, they dance around female peafowls with their long train to impress them. while, on the other hand, female peafowls have shorter trains than male peafowls. Their train is repressed because they don’t have to showcase them for attraction purposes.

Another big difference you can spot is their size. More commonly male birds are bigger than their female birds. So is the same in peafowls too. Peacocks are blogger in size than peahens. This difference can be spotted in peafowls of the same age. You can easily spot the male and female peafowls because of their size and feathers. 

During mating season, peacocks showcase their beautiful plumage and make special sounds to attract their females. While on the other hand, female peafowls watch and decide to decide to choose their potential partner. These differences between male and female peafowls help us to understand the roles of both in their beautiful peafowl world.

Natural Habitat of Black Peafowls

In a world of the wild, every bird or animal has their preferences to live and choose their habitat. This habitat is according to their analogy. They naturally know what kind of environment or area would be suitable for them to live their life comfortably. In the case of peacocks, they more often have been seen in open grasslands, forests, wood areas, and near waterfalls. They enjoy the environment with greenery in open spaces and trees. This environment is comfortable for them to show off their stunned feathers. 

An interesting fact about black peacocks is that they are quite adaptive. They are nature lover birds and enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest. They avoid extreme weather like cold and hot seasoned areas. Dense forests are also not their comfortable space as it is resistant to their show of feathers.

For the people who want to keep them as a pet or in a zoo, they have to provide a substitute for their comfortable environment. The requirements are simple like a green park for a zoo with some green grass and trees. And for people who want them as pets, they must have a beautiful rich green lawn in the courtyard or the farmhouse with green grass and a beautiful fountain. They will be healthy and happy in such an environment. Such a mimic environment gives them comfort to feel at home, like greenery and open space with a touch of waterfall. This all belongs to the beauty of nature.

Distribution and Conservation Challenges

Beautiful colourful peafowls can be found worldwide but Black peafowls are rare and available in some specific regions of the world. Their roots belong to the Indian Subcontinent. But now they are distributed to other countries and bred there. The breeding engineers kept experimenting with them and produced them in different color combinations. Black peacocks are also can be seen with blue or green necks and heads.

The environmental habitat plays a crucial part in making distribution decisions. They can’t bear extremes of cold and hot weather, as we discussed earlier about their comfortable environment of greenery with a touch of waterfall. So the countries with extreme weather are not environment-friendly for their habitat and growth. The countries of South-East Asia like Myanmar and Java are known for the inhabitance of Black Peafowls. They are also found in some Indian States. 

The conservation of Black Peafowls is also a challenge now. They are already fewer in number and their survival is a big task for breeders. The habitant environment is rapidly changing due to human activities and also climate changes. This is a threat to their well-being. Many wildlife organizations and researchers are working to spread awareness to save the environment for these beautiful birds. They are making efforts to conserve them for the future. According to recent research, approximately 159 bird species have been extinct while about 226 are in danger of disappearing from this planet. We can contribute to efforts to conserve Black Peafowls by protecting the environment and by not destroying natural habitats like forests and open green areas for them. A small part of every person can save hundreds of lives especially rare species like Black Peafowls.

Behavior and Social Structure

The most fascinating behavior of Peafowls is their courtship display. In their mating season, they put on an impressive show to attract their mates by spreading their tail feathers. This dance with their shiny black feathers out to impress female peafowls is so captivating. They make different sounds to communicate and during their courtship, they sound like a song to attract females.

Black peafowls more often like to be in groups, they form social groups to spend time together. These groups have both male and female peafowls. By being in groups they look for food together and be alert to potential danger from other animals. They are very protective towards their group mates and their territory. They make sounds to alert other members of the group to alert from threats. These habits make them very social creatures.

Breeding and Reproduction Habits

Like many other birds, these black peafowls built their nest. The difference is they built their nest in bushes and hidden spots on the ground rather than in trees like other birds. After creating their nest, female peafowls lay eggs usually four to six. These eggs have a protective layer outside to safeguard chicks. Peahens incubate eggs by sitting on them for a month. After a month fluffy chicks come out of eggs. The mother takes care of her chicks and protects them from any threat until they grow and move by themselves. This whole process, from selecting a safe space for the nest to laying eggs and incubating them shows their protective and loving nature. 

Cultural and Religious Values

Aside from Black peacock’s beauty and dance, they have some cultural significance too. In some cultures of the world, peacocks are considered a symbol of beauty and protection. People relate their beauty to royalty and divine expression. In Hinduism, Hindus link peacocks to their Goddess Saraswati, a sign of wisdom. While in Greek methodology, peacocks are associated with Goddess Hera. Goddess Hera is considered the queen of all Gods by the Greeks. 

Different cultures have different stories and tales related to peacocks. The aura of Black peafowls is very mysterious yet elegant. In many cultures, they are considered as a symbol of spirituality. While in certain beliefs, they symbolize eternity and transformation. This belief is linked to the shedding and renewal cycle of feathers. Many artists like painters, poets, and storytellers use black peacocks because of their mesmerizing beauty.

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