Peacocks can fly. General Interesting Facts

Many of us have seen beautiful and majestic peacocks in zoos. They stroll importantly, spreading their beautiful tail with bright feathers. Only males have such extraordinary beauty of a tail. What do peacocks look like? and what is the name of this feminine bird, is it possible to eat peacock meat?

These birds of rare beauty originated from wild pheasants and chickens Despite this origin, they are much larger than their closest relatives. There are only two species in the world - the common and green peacock. These birds are not only the most beautiful among their close relatives, but also record holders for size. Among chickens, they are considered the largest. Males and females have several differences:

• feather color;
• behavior;
• tail shape.

Birds are most common in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. They love to live among the jungle at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. Since they are a terrestrial species, they move very quickly, overcoming dense thickets without problems.

Two kinds peacocks have many differences in appearance and reproduction. An ordinary or blue peacock has a purple-blue neck, part of the chest and head with a green or golden tint. The green back has a metallic sheen. It also shows brown spots, blue streaks of feathers with a black border. The tail of this species has brown feathers and green rumps. They are decorated with rounded spots with black in the center. Their beak is pink and their legs are bluish-gray. Males reach a length of 230 cm, and the tail can grow up to 50 cm with a tail plume of one and a half meters.

Female common peacocks have an earthy-brown upper body with a wavy pattern. The upper back and lower neck, as well as the chest, are distinguished by a shiny green color. The sides of the head and throat are colored White color, stripes around the eyes. The female's head is decorated with a small crest of brown color with a hint of green. The female reaches only 1 meter in length, and the tail can be 137 cm long.

No, I didn’t call, I didn’t write, I didn’t send a carrier pigeon. Maybe he overslept. Or scored.

I pursed my lips. Overslept - yes, perhaps. But not two pairs in a row. This is not about Kostya. He scored - it’s not about Kostya at all. He, of course, was not an excellent student, but he always followed student standards due to his own tediousness.

Zhenya sighed:

Do you want me to go see him after class?

I nodded. Yes it would be nice. Zhenya smiled, straightened up and was about to return to the lecture, but looked at me again and, lowering her voice even further, asked:

You guys quarreled again, or what?

Shrugging my shoulders, I didn’t answer. We didn't quarrel. We broke up - that would be more accurate, but it’s clearly not worth telling Zhenya about it. Scratching my chin, I looked at a completely empty sheet of notebook, where, in theory, there should already be a written lecture, which I didn’t even try to listen to this time. Of course, I was worried about Kostya. Even if he was a shitty guy who didn't say anything about things that didn't suit him, he was still the good friend he became during our relationship.

And I was not ready to say goodbye to this friendship. That is why, when I heard the bell, I jumped out of my seat and hurried to the exit. I didn’t want to wait until Zhenya came home and, if he didn’t forget, call me. Jumping out the door, I almost bumped my forehead with Goshka, who recoiled in shock. I couldn't help but stop. And I didn’t want to. In the end, after a successful date, running past Goshka, who has just fallen in love with me, is not a very good idea.

What are you doing? - he asked, looking at me with genuine incomprehension. - Are you afraid you won’t make it to the dining room in time, or what?

I started laughing. Goshka is inimitable! For all his talents, he remained such a dunce. Dining room... Yes, I have never eaten in our dining room. Did anyone eat there at all, except for the freshmen... and Goshka, apparently?

No, I'm going to Kostya.

And where he? “He wasn’t in class today,” Goshka’s eyebrows met on the bridge of his nose, and he immediately began to look more serious.

Don't know. I hope it's home. I want to find out what happened.

Goshka suddenly looked at me carefully and, squinting, said without asking:

You're worried.

“I’m worried,” I didn’t try to hide it, fleetingly thinking that Goshka seemed jealous. But he somehow relaxed, straightened his shoulders and nodded towards the stairs.

He unexpectedly went first, and I followed him, surprised by such a reaction. Already on the street, when Goshka pulled the zipper of his jacket and put his hands in his pockets, he looked at me, and I noticed the lights of slight disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Listen, what is all this for?

What all"?

Goshka shrugged his shoulders and somehow even lost his step. I watched him and understood what he was driving at. But I decided not to interrupt: it would be better to let him say it himself, than then everything turns out not to be as I suggested. And it will turn out like with Kostya.

Well, that's it. I just do not understand. You seem to be dating Kostya, giving me a blowjob, then another, then we go on a date, as you said. And now you are returning to Kostya again.

Nodding, I mentally chuckled: I was right. With Goshka everything was simpler. All his thoughts lay on the surface, and there was no need to guess. And he spoke directly. Not like Kostya. And, apparently, he has already become comfortable with the awareness of his own orientation if he wants to find out the answers. This made me happy because it saved me from a lot of problems. A big - huge - step forward has been taken. All I had to do was gently push Goshka in the right direction. But first, it was worth finding out what happened to Kostya and why he didn’t come to class. My intuition, which, by the way, very rarely let me down in such things, insisted that something had happened, and not just that Kostya for once decided to give up on studying.

Goshka continued to look with demanding questioning, and I had to distract myself from my thoughts. Shaking my head towards the stop, I also buttoned up my jacket, since the wind was blowing through me, and said:

I'm not going back to Kostya. I'm worried about him. And that's okay.

Is it normal for you?

“Fine,” I answered reluctantly and looked displeasedly at Goshka. - Doesn’t it look like I can worry about someone?

What else haven't I answered?

Damn, I'm lucky to be a bore. Kostya alone seems to be not enough. Goshka may be straightforward, but he turned out to be just as nasty. And this was annoying at the moment, when the unknown was already fraying my nerves, and there was still no bus.

Regarding Kostya... Listen, I understand that I may be a little pushy, but I want to know. For me it important step. I never thought I was gay. And I kind of like you, so I don’t mind, but it bothers me...

I looked at him and was amazed at such honesty. Especially in broad daylight, it’s good at least there was no one at the bus stop, otherwise both of them would have been hit in the face if some brave fighter for morals had been nearby. And yet Goshka’s words were captivating, I couldn’t simply ignore them, while at the same time scratching my sense of self-importance: after all, it was my doing, I took the guy to the dark side. Such good things should not go to girls, they won’t appreciate them. They will demand movies, dominoes, wine and give them on holidays.

We broke up with Kostya, you don’t have to worry about it. And I like you too. And you like the fact that you care about me. So don’t worry and... Oh, our bus,” I was the first to fly up to the doors and went inside, running away from the awkward conversation. Confessing my feelings sober was new to me.

Usually I said all this nonsense when I was full of whiskey, tequila, or at least vodka. And now... It was really very awkward, because it was the first time I found myself in such a situation. But the recognition somehow flew out on its own. And it was true. That is, I liked Goshka. And it seemed like I didn’t say anything terrible, but I still felt uncomfortable and on the bus I preferred to bury my head in my phone, diligently pretending that I was reading. Goshka did not climb, turned to the window and was clearly thinking about something of his own. Maybe even about me. I did not rule out this possibility.

The peacock's tail is one of the most beautiful phenomena in the animal kingdom. However, important narcissistic birds need them not only for beauty. It turns out that peacocks use their main advantage to reproduce loud, low-frequency sounds, those that are inaudible to the human ear. Thus, according to scientists, the decibels emitted by a peacock’s tail can be comparable to the sound of a speeding car.

Infrasonic noise using a tail

A study conducted by Angela Freeman and James Hare from the University of Manitoba showed that peacocks easily perceive and respond to infrasonic noises made using their tails. At the same time, humans are unable to perceive infrasound as a potential signal, which is why we were unable to hear the peacock “roll call.” The question arises: how did scientists come to the idea of ​​studying this problem?

Interesting behavior of a peacock at the zoo

James Hare's experiment was prompted by seeing the strange behavior of a peacock at the zoo. The scientist noticed that the bird was pressing its beautiful tail against the concrete wall. And if at first Khare did not understand why the bird needed to carry out such manipulations, then soon the scientist had an epiphany.
This huge tail was strikingly reminiscent of an ordinary satellite dish. What if the peacock was listening to some unknown sounds in this way? The matter remains small. It was necessary to select a group of birds, as well as equip themselves with devices capable of detecting low-frequency sounds.

Progress of the experiment

Freeman and Hare observed the behavior of 46 individuals, including both males and females. Curiously, when interacting with each other, the peacock feathers on their tails indicated a characteristic vibration. This can only be compared to the rustling of grass in the wind.
However, recordings showed that the sounds made by the birds ranged between 70 and 108 decibels. Despite the fact that the birds spent a lot of time in active movement, walking or running, scientists noticed one interesting detail. Males necessarily sent a response to the sounds made by their opponents.

How do birds hear infrasound?

It remains unclear how peacocks themselves can detect infrasound. Scientists know that some bird species detect low-frequency sounds using their own legs. However, such a low-intensity sound that the peacocks made during the experiment disproves this theory. Therefore, Angela Freeman suggested that the peacock’s inner ear is quite capable of distinguishing infrasounds. The correct shape of the structure of the inner ear may well indicate this.

Conclusion

To some people, the production of low-frequency sounds by peacocks may seem like a pointless endeavor. However, in the wild, this feature takes on a distinct meaning. The male must guard his territory, and when he hears an approaching rival, he must immediately announce his presence. Under natural conditions, peacocks live in impenetrable jungles or dense subtropical forests. Birds often cannot immediately discern their opponent. That is why piercing muffled sounds help them navigate in space so much.

March 11th, 2013

Many people believe that the peacock (lat. Pavo Linnaeus) is a truly special bird. However, this is not quite true. The results of research by zoologists have shown that the peacock has a lot in common with an ordinary chicken and belongs to the order Gallinae! The magnificent “tail” of the peacock is actually the upper tail feathers, while the tail itself consists of nondescript gray feathers.

These exotic birds are widespread in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and some other countries. They prefer to stay in the jungle at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. Like the common domestic chicken, the peacock is a terrestrial bird and is very good at running and making its way through dense thickets.

U real peacocks(Pavo) the upper tail coverts are very well developed, which the male spreads in the form of a fan-shaped train during mating. These birds have a small head and a long neck. The male and female differ in the color of their plumage and the length of their uppertail coverts. The sixth flight feather is longer than the others.

Common or blue peacock (Pavo cristatus) very handsome. Its head, neck and front part of the chest are purple-blue with a golden or green tint. The back is green with a metallic sheen, blue streaks, brown spots and black feather edges; The loin and wing coverts are light rusty in color with glossy black transverse strokes, the tail is brown. The underside is black with grey-brown markings. The rump feathers are green with a bronze tint and variegated round “eye-shaped” spots with a black spot in the center. The beak is pink, the legs are bluish-gray. The length of the male is 180-230 cm, tail 40-50 and tail plume 140-160 cm.

The female has a stripe near the eyes, the sides of the head and throat are white, the bottom of the neck, the top of the back and chest are shiny, green, the rest of the upper body is earthy-brown with a light wavy pattern. On the head there is a crest of brown feathers with a green sheen. The length of the female is 90-100, the tail is 32-37 cm. The common peacock (2 subspecies) is widespread in India and on the island of Sri Lanka. Subspecies black-winged peacock (Pavo muticus nigripennis) differs from the common one in black shiny shoulders and wings with a bluish tint, and the female has a lighter color of plumage; her back and neck are covered with brown and yellowish streaks.

Or here's an option:

Javan peacock. Peacocks (Pavo Linnaeus, 1758) - genus large birds from the subfamily of pheasants (lat. Phasianinae), order Galliformes (lat. Galliformes), other Russian names - blue-winged peacock, green peacock - one of two species of Asian peacocks, living in Southeast Asia.

Javan peacock. Peacocks (Pavo Linnaeus, 1758) - a genus of large birds from the pheasant subfamily (lat. Phasianinae), order Galliformes (lat. Galliformes), other Russian names - blue-winged peacock, green peacock - one of two species of Asian peacocks, living in the Southeast Asia.

Unlike the ordinary peacock, the Javan peacock is much larger and brighter in color, has plumage with a metallic tint and longer legs, a neck and a crest on the head. The elongated tail of peacocks is flat, while most pheasants have a roof-shaped tail.

Thanks to its lush, fan-shaped ocellated “tail,” the peacock is known as the most beautiful bird among Galliformes.

A characteristic feature of a male peacock is the strong development of the upper tail coverts, which are usually mixed with tail feathers or tail feathers in the proper sense of the word.

There are two Asian species of peacocks, the common and Javan palin.

Although the habitats of the two Asian species (P. cristatus and P. muticus) do not overlap, hybrids between them often arise in captivity and are called "Spalding" - named after Keith Spalding, who first crossed cristatus and muticus . The offspring from these crosses are completely fertile.

The common or Indian or crested peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacock. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). Domesticated by man.

Javan peacock, or gigantic, the peacock is the largest in the chicken world. In appearance it resembles an ordinary peacock, but is larger; in addition, it is also distinguished by the fact that its neck and chest are colored greenish, and the crest on its head does not fan out - it consists of feathers pressed together and forming a dense, high bun. The train is similar to that of common peacocks. The females of these two species are very similar.

Javan peacock lives in Southeast Asia, from Thailand and the Malay Peninsula to Java.

Peacocks raised in captivity become completely tame. Some Vietnamese bird lovers keep them in their backyards. Unlike the common peacock, the Javan peacock is more aggressive towards its close and distant relatives, so males have to be kept in separate rooms most of the year.

Females get along well with other pheasant birds. Due to the high aggressiveness of males, breeding this species in captivity becomes problematic. While protecting females, males sometimes jump on people, and you need to be careful with them, as they sometimes inflict injuries with their sharp spurs. A male with clipped wings no longer “owns” such a vast territory, but even with this “limitation” they make jumps of more than 1.8 m in height. Only large gardens or parks are truly suitable for keeping these birds.

During the mating season, birds are placed in spacious enclosures with different shelters for females. There are usually six eggs in a clutch; incubation lasts 28 days. Young peacocks develop slowly and become independent when they are at least eight weeks old.

The length of the male is 180-300 cm, wings 46-54 cm, tail 40-47 cm, train 140-160 cm. Weighs up to 5 kg.

The head and upper neck are brownish-green. The crest consists of feathers with wider fans. The periocular area is bluish-gray in color.

The feathers of the lower part of the neck are green with golden-green edges and have a scaly pattern, the chest and upper back are bluish-green with reddish and yellow spots; the lower back is copper-bronze with brown markings, the shoulders and wings are dark green, the flight feathers are brown with black and gray spots on the outer side of the fan.

The tail feathers are light chestnut, and the highly elongated coverts are as bright and similar in color as the common peacock, but with a metallic copper-red hue. The beak is black, the legs are gray.

The female differs little in color from the male, but is smaller in size.

Indian peacock(Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacock. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). The national bird of India is Indian peacock(Pavo cristatus) is a brightly colored bird about the size of a swan, with a fan-shaped tuft of feathers on its head, white spots under the eyes and a long, thin neck. Chest and neck Indian peacock are covered with shiny blue feathers, and the magnificent tail consists of long bronze-green feathers, of which there are about 200. Domesticated by humans.

Body length of the common peacock ( Indian) 100-125 cm, tail 40-50 cm, elongated tail feathers decorated with “eyes” 120-160 cm. The male weighs 4-4.25 kg. The head, neck and part of the chest are blue, the back is green, and the lower body is black. The female is smaller, more modestly colored and lacks elongated tail feathers.

Found in large or small flocks. It feeds mainly on plant foods, partly on animals (insects, mollusks, small vertebrates). Hardy and unpretentious in maintenance. Life expectancy is about 20 years.

Polygamous bird: the male lives with a group of 3-5 females. Reaches sexual maturity at two to three years. The breeding season is from April to September.

Lays 4-10 eggs directly on the ground, in captivity makes up to three clutches per year. The incubation period of eggs is 28 days.

A young male common (Indian) peacock from one year to 1.5 years wears an outfit similar to that of a female, and typical adult feathers are fully developed only at the age of three years.

Widely distributed in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka at altitudes up to 2000 m above sea level, lives in jungles and woodlands, on cultivated lands and near villages, preferring bush thickets, forest clearings and river banks.

By the beginning of the 20th century, peacocks were kept relatively rarely to decorate poultry yards and parks, since it was believed that their unpleasant voice and the damage they caused in gardens did not correspond to the pleasure brought by its appearance. Nowadays it is often kept as an ornamental bird; in India - in a semi-domestic state.

In captivity, the common peacock is not particularly prolific, always retains a certain amount of independence, and does not get along well with the rest. poultry, but perfectly withstands even quite severe cold, suffering little from snow.

In India, hunting peacocks is prohibited by law, but poachers hunt them for their beautiful feathers, as well as meat, which is mixed with chicken or turkey when sold.

White peacock. The white peacock, or Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) is the most numerous species of peacock. It is a monotypic species, that is, it is not divided into subspecies, but it has a number of color variations (mutations). Domesticated by man.

This species of common peacock lives in southern India and the island of Sri Lanka and has brilliant white plumage with various shades and dots on the wings; the tail feathers are also completely white with large white spots at the ends that are separated by shade. The beak and legs of the white peacock are reddish. White peacock- like a bride who “performs like a peahen.” Birds of this color have a very special charm: blue “eyes” in pure white plumage.

A characteristic feature of a male white peacock is a strong development of the upper coverts

Peacocks' food consists of seeds, tender shoots of plants and invertebrates.. They readily feed on the seedlings of cultivated cereals in the fields, and when the berries are ripe, they eat them in large quantities. Peacocks are capable of catching and eating snakes or swallowing small rodents.

These birds breed at different times depending on the geographical location of the area. In the south, the nesting season begins at the end of the rainy period, and in the north it lasts from April to July. Males guard a nesting area of ​​up to 1 hectare, but females do not recognize its boundaries. The male has up to 3-5 females, which after mating leave him, make a nest under a bush or near the upturned roots of a tree and lay 5-7 large yellowish-white eggs. The basis of mating relationships among peacocks is mating; harems disintegrate after mating, and males do not participate in incubating and raising chicks.

Peacocks are one of the most beautiful and largest birds, so people paid attention to them in ancient times. Already in the parks of the Roman Caesars, they were kept as decorative birds, and meat, seasoned with various spices, was served on the table during a feast. And currently, peacocks are kept in parks and gardens as ornamental birds.

Peacocks produce loud, sharp calls that not every person can tolerate. Therefore, despite their beauty, these birds are rarely kept at home, but still lovers living in the southern regions of our country, especially in the Caucasus, keep peacocks.

Despite the long history of domestication, the peacock is almost no different from its ancestors. In addition to birds with normal colors, there are only varieties with pure white plumage or with such white background scattered brown spots with blue and purple edging. Sometimes such birds can be found in some areas in the wild.

Peacocks easily tolerate acclimatization, are unpretentious to living conditions, and are insensitive to rain and cold. In the south of our country, both in winter and summer, they can spend the night on a tree or perch under open air. Only in particularly severe winters should they be kept in an insulated shed, but in winter, during the daytime, the birds can be released for a walk. Hobbyists should be aware that peacocks are not friendly with pheasants, backyard chickens, and other chickens and can kill them to death.

Adult peacocks should be fed the same as domestic chickens. They readily eat grains, root vegetables, meat, bread and other foods. To keep birds, you need specially equipped enclosures, in which you should install high poles (up to 2-3 m) or plant trees. It is good to place a roof over the poles so that the birds can hide from the rain and sun.

Pet peacocks are easy to breed, but at the same time there should not be more than 3-4 females per male. Females begin to lay eggs, depending on the weather, from April or May to the end of July. If eggs are collected all the time, up to 30 eggs can be collected from one female. In order for them to lay in one place and not scatter eggs throughout the enclosure, you need to build a nest in a secluded place - put a basket or box, and cover the bottom with straw.

Sometimes the female lays an egg while sitting on a perch, and it falls to the ground and breaks. In such cases, a thick layer of sawdust or sand is poured under the perch, but such eggs are unsuitable for hatching chicks (they can only be used for food).

Eggs should be placed under turkeys or chickens for incubation.. Female peacocks usually hatch poorly, but if one of them has hatched chicks, she warms them, looks for food for them and sleeps with them on a tree branch or perch. In cold rainy weather, they climb under its plumage so that only the heads on the long neck peek out.

Immediately after hatching, the chicks are very tender: they are afraid of cold, dampness, rain and bright sun, therefore, their care should be more thorough than that of common pheasant chicks. Peacock chicks need to be fed on the very first day of their life, as soon as they dry out under the hen. The food for chicks is the same as for pheasants or chickens of domestic chickens, but with the addition of small mealworms and fresh herbs at first. As the chicks grow, they are given millet grains, crushed wheat, barley, and oatmeal. At the age of 2 months. they already eat the same things as adult peacocks, they love berries and sweet fruits, and consume animal food: leftover meat, meat powder, curdled milk, insects and their larvae. Meat powder is given to them mixed with bread crumbs, ground with hard-boiled eggs and flour diluted with water. It is also very good to give boiled rice or millet porridge mixed with finely chopped onions or nettles.

A male peacock is a decoration for a park or home yard. Dressed in luxurious multi-colored plumage, he proudly walks in front of the females, shakes and moves his feathers, makes a slight rustle, and spreads the elongated feathers of the upper tail like a fan. Mating poses and dances during the current last 15-20 minutes; during the rest of the year they are expressed in the same, but shorter-term poses. The intensity of mating behavior is influenced by the weather conditions: males are especially willing to mating in cool weather.

Peacocks moult in September. The male loses almost all of his uppertail feathers, but still remains very beautiful. He behaves more calmly at this time.

PEACOCK is a symbol of pride, an emblem of beauty and immortality. In many countries, the peacock was considered a royal bird, and Hindus revere it as sacred. In the peacock's homeland, South Asia, it is highly valued for warning of the approach of tigers, snakes and thunderstorms. It is believed that due to the beauty of its plumage, the peacock is able to “process” the venom of the snake it has struck.

In Russia, a completely different attitude towards peacocks developed due to the fact that only rich people could breed them. Therefore, only in the Russian consciousness did the peacock become a symbol of arrogance and arrogance. The expression “spread his tail like a peacock” acquired the meaning not only of courtship, but also of vanity and feigned pride.

According to Greek myth, the peacock was associated with Zeus' wife Hera. When Hermes killed the hundred-eyed Argos by putting him to sleep by playing the flute, Hera revived him by transferring Argos' eyes to the plumage of a peacock. Among the Romans, the peacock became an attribute of Juno, for whom the amoretti, winged babies, collected “eyes” from its tail. On Roman coins, the peacock was depicted as a sign of the divinity of the emperor's daughters.

In early Christianity, the image of a peacock was associated with the symbolism of the sun and began to be perceived as a symbol of immortality, like a turtle in the East, and the beauty of the incorruptible soul. In the Christian tradition, the “eyes” of a peacock sometimes symbolize the “all-seeing” Church. Since this bird periodically renews its plumage, it became a symbol of immortality, as well as resurrection, since it was believed that its flesh did not rot, even after lying in the ground for three days. The peacock is also an attribute of the Christian great martyr Barbara (III century) and the allegory of Pride.

Peacock- the sun bird of India, a symbol of many gods, in particular Buddha. At the level of eastern emblems, a fan made from a peacock's tail was considered a symbol of suffering and was an attribute of Avalokiteshvara, one of the main bodhisattvas of the Buddhist tradition. In China, during the Ming Dynasty, such a fan was awarded for high merit in the service of the emperor. In Islam, the "eye" of the peacock is associated with the "eye of the heart" and therefore with inner vision. The Indian god of love Kama was often depicted sitting on a peacock, symbolizing passionate desires.

This idea of ​​passion finds its echo in the world of butterflies, where a male night peacock butterfly can smell a female several kilometers away. The pattern of its wings, reminiscent of numerous eyes, in Indian mythology was perceived as a picture of the starry sky. The symbolism of two peacocks on both sides of the cosmic tree came from ancient Persia to the Muslims, and from them to the West, and signifies the mental duality of man, who draws his strength from the principle of unity.

The peacock's tail, which includes all the colors of the rainbow, was perceived as a universal symbol. For example, in Islam, the tail of a peacock, revealed in all its beauty, meant either the universe, or the full moon or the sun at its zenith. The peacock's tail appears in the 84th emblem of Bosch's Symbolic Art as the idea of ​​the whole and a sign of the union of all colors.

In alchemy, the “peacock’s tail” is the second stage of the “great work,” when the “black of blacks” is covered with all the colors of the rainbow. In the alternation of the time of day, the peacock corresponds to twilight. With a snake in its beak, it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

In some countries, the peacock is considered a harbinger of trouble. Its feathers are called the “eyes of the devil” and “warn” of the appearance of a traitor. The most common superstition in England is that peacock feathers should not be kept at home: a disaster may befall the owner or his daughters will not marry. It is believed that the presence of a peacock on stage can lead to the failure of a play. Perhaps all these prejudices are explained by the fact that the ever-open “eye” in a peacock feather is associated with the evil eye and, therefore, with bad luck.

In heraldry, the peacock was depicted with flowing plumage, which in the language of heraldry, "blazon", was called "a peacock in his pride."

The peacock's tail, in particular, appears in the eighty-fourth emblem of Bosch's Symbolic Art as a symbol of the mixture of all colors, as well as the idea of ​​the whole. This explains why in Christian art it appears as a symbol of immortality and the incorruptible soul.

In Hindu mythology, the pattern of its wings, resembling countless eyes, is considered to represent the starry sky.

A solar symbol associated with the cult of the tree and the Sun, as well as with the peon. Symbolizes immortality, longevity, love. A natural symbol of the stars in the sky and, as a result, ascension to Heaven and immortality. Associated with storms as he becomes restless before the rain, and his dance during the rain reflects the symbolism of the spiral. Talkativeness, swagger and vanity are relatively late connotations. Buddhism: Compassion and Alertness. A fan of peacock feathers is an attribute of Avalokiteshvara, also identified with Guan Yin and Amitabha, as a symbol of compassion. China: dignity, high rank, beauty. Attribute of Guan Yin and Si WangMu. A peacock feather was awarded upon receiving a high rank for merit and signified the favor of the emperor. Emblem of the Ming Dynasty.

Christianity: immortality, resurrection, the soul glorified before the Lord, since the peacock renews its plumage, and its meat was considered unperishable. “One hundred eyes” of the all-seeing Church. It also symbolizes saints, as its tail resembles a halo. A peacock sitting on a sphere or orb represented the ability to rise above worldly things. His feather is the emblem of Saint Barbara.

However, on the other hand, the Christian doctrine of a humble life led to the fact that the sins of pride, luxury and vanity began to be identified with the image of the peacock, therefore in Western art the peacock is most often the personification of Pride. In Russia, the following attitude developed towards peacocks: since only very wealthy people could afford to breed these rare birds, all the qualities that were hated in the master were transferred to the “lordly bird”. Therefore, in Russia the peacock is an emblem of arrogance, complacency and arrogance.

Ancient Greece: solar symbol, symbol of the bird-god Phaon "shaking". Originally an attribute of Pan, then borrowed by Hero as a symbol of the starry vault. Argus's eyes were scattered across Hera's tail. Hinduism: sometimes - the mount of Brahma; Lakshmi and the god of war Skanda-Karttikeya also ride on a peacock; when the god of love Kama sits astride it, it symbolizes impatient desire. The peacock is the emblem of the goddess of wisdom, music and poetry Saraswati. In Iran, peacocks standing on both sides of the Tree of Life signify dualism and the dual nature of man. It also symbolizes royal power: the throne of the Persian shahs was called the “peacock throne.” Islam: the light that "saw the self like a peacock with a spreading tail." The peacock's eye is associated with the Eye of the Heart. The Japanese bodhisattva Kujaku-Mae always sits on a peacock. Rome: bird of Juno with the same meaning as in the case of Hera. Emblem of the Empress and the Emperor's daughters.

An ornamental bird originating from India, where it is due to its luxurious fan-shaped tail. was considered a symbol of the Sun.
Through Babylonia. She reached Samos in Persia and Asia Minor and became a sacred bird there in the temple of Hera. In the 5th century BC. in Athens, peacocks were shown for money as an exotic rarity, and in the 2nd century. BC. in Rome they were the sacred birds of Juno.
In India, some gods were depicted riding peacocks.

In the West, the peacock was considered a snake destroyer, and the iridescent colors of the tail were attributed to its ability to transform snake venom into a solar substance.
In the East, the Kurdish sect of the Yazidis (“devil worshipers”) considers the peacock as Melek Taus (King Peacock), the messenger of God: in Islam it is considered a symbol of the cosmos or the great celestial bodies of the Sun and Moon.

Early Christianity also favored positive interpretations of the peacock. Its meat was considered incorruptible (a symbol of Christ in the tomb), the loss of feathers and their new growth in the spring was equally seen as a symbol of renewal and resurrection. The ancient folk belief that the blood of a peacock drives out demons also continued to operate. Quite often, the peacock was represented in images of the grotto in Bethlehem, where Christ was born: two peacocks drinking from the same cup indicate spiritual rebirth, and cherubs often display four wings made of peacock feathers. The “eyes” of peacocks were understood as an indication of divine omniscience, and peacock meat until modern times was considered food that gave strength to the sick. Negative traits are noted in the text of the early Christian “Physiologus”: The peacock “walks around, looks at itself with pleasure and shakes its plumage, puts on airs and looks arrogantly around itself. But if he looks at his paws, he will cry out angrily, since they do not correspond to the rest of his appearance.” If a Christian, this is the symbolic interpretation, sees his merits, he will perhaps rejoice; “But when you see your feet, that is, your flaws, then turn with a complaint to God and hate injustice, just as a peacock hates its paws, so that you will appear before the (heavenly) bridegroom justified.”

This puts into circulation a symbolic meaning that is common today, which since the Middle Ages in books about animals (“Bestiaries”) makes the peacock a bird symbolizing vanity, luxury and arrogance (arrogance). This also meant a spiritual preacher. “When a peacock is praised, he raises and spreads his tail, just as another preacher, when praising flatterers, extols his spirit in vain grandeur. If he raises his tail, his bottom is exposed and he becomes a laughing stock as he swaggers around arrogantly. This means that the peacock must hold its tail low in order to humbly carry out everything that the teacher does” (Unterkircher). In the Baroque era, in images of scenes of the Way of the Cross to Calvary, Jesus, stripped of his clothes, atones for the people for the sin of vanity, which is represented by a peacock placed nearby.
Among the Minnesingers, this bird was considered the embodiment and personification of arrogance, arrogant pride (“He walked proudly back and forth, just like a peacock,” Hugo of Trimberg).

In China, the positive interpretation was borrowed from the Indian region (goddess Saraswati rides on a peacock, Indra sits on a peacock throne), the peacock represents beauty and dignity, drives out evil forces and dances at the sight of beautiful women. Peacock feathers were a distinctive sign of the Manchu Emperor and were displayed in vases. The Chinese garden also contained peacocks.
In the figurative world of alchemy, a peacock’s tail shimmering with colors in some texts and images is considered a sign of the emerging transformation of lower substances into higher ones. in others - a symbol of an unsuccessful process, which brings with it only slag (caput mortuum - a dead head).

In heraldry, the peacock appears only occasionally (for example, the coat of arms of the Counts von Wied, the helmet-treasure of the Counts von Ortenburg, the peacock tail as the helmet-treasure of the Archdukes of Austria, the peacock fan as a decoration of the armorial helmets of the Princes von Schwarzenberg, Counts von Henneberg, etc.), and Naturally, a positive interpretation of the image of the peacock (resurrection, radiance) was assumed here.
Radiant glory, immortality, greatness, incorruptibility, pride.
The sparkling splendor of the tail of the male peacock is the reason for his comparison with the immortal gods, and therefore with immortality.
Since snakes were considered enemies of the sun in Iranian symbolism, the peacock was believed to kill snakes in order to use their saliva to create iridescent bronze-green and blue-gold “eyes” on its tail feathers. Added to this legend was the idea that peacock meat was indestructible.
In Islamic decorative arts the unity of opposites (the sun at its zenith next to the full moon) was depicted in the form of two peacocks under the World Tree.
Peacocks are widely known as an emblem of greatness, royalty, spiritual superiority, the ideal creature.

In Persia, the Shah's court was called the "Peacock Throne".

From here, from the East, the image of a peacock or simply a peacock feather in a knight’s hat came to Europe as a symbol of his high moral thoughts.
Some contradiction can be seen in the fact that the Indian Mars, the god of war Kartikeya, the son of the wise Shiva, rides on a peacock, but in fact there is no contradiction here: if we read the ancient Indian books devoted to the art of war, we will see that there was no war then were a means of mass extermination of people, such as the wars of the 20th century became - rather, they were tournaments, something similar to knightly competitions in Europe.
They tried to make these competitions as magnificent and spectacular as possible. Often, as if everything was proceeding according to a pre-prepared scenario, a bloody fight between representatives of mortally warring clans suddenly ended with the betrothal of a young man and a girl from both clans and a holiday that could last for weeks.

Symbolism and deep perception of the surrounding world are combined in Art Nouveau with amazingly expressive and beautiful external forms and images that are not so often considered from a philosophical point of view. When I studied at the university, it was customary to talk about Art Nouveau as a bourgeois, outwardly overly aestheticized and superficial style. In fact, the choice of subjects in the era of Art Nouveau was absolutely not accidental and was deeply thought out, because all the artists who worked then, with rare exceptions, had a deep academic education, which presupposed knowledge of both mythology and symbolism. If we take into account the general fascination with the culture of the East in that period, then one can imagine what an interesting cultural-historical mixture lies at the basis of the philosophy of Art Nouveau.

Peacock symbolizes the colorful diversity of the world. The peacock is often made to personify the endless variety, the cheerful spirit with which God created this earth, having fun as he wanted.
In Indian mythology, when Krishna and Radha - two forms of the god Vishnu - dance and play in the eternal joy of love, peacocks look at them. There are iconic toys, for example: Krishna and Radha swing on a swing, and on the pillars of the swing we again see peacocks. The motley peacock seems to be telling us: no matter how hard life is, no matter how unpleasant surprises it brings us, this is inevitable, we must find joy in life and believe that its diversity will always allow us to find a positive side. In the Indian court, the peacock always accompanied the image of both deities - Krishna and Radha - and was a symbol of an exemplary life of love and beauty.

In heraldry, the peacock is depicted with flowing plumage. In "blazon" (the language of heraldry) this is called "a peacock in its pride."

Tausin - peacock stone (from the Persian “tausi”) was called labradorite in Russia for its resemblance to the iridescence of peacock plumage. The St. Petersburg nobility wore rings, rings and snuff boxes made of this stone, and ladies showed off outfits made of iridescent “taaus” silk. However, the “tausine fashion” lasted until 1835, when the discovery of the richest deposit of labradorite in Ukraine devalued this mineral.