The Peacock: India's National Bird

By: EjazUlHaqBhat

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The peacock, the national bird of India, is a large, colourful bird with a fan-shaped crest, a white patch under its eye, and a long neck

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The peacock can weigh between 2.7-6 kg and has a wingspan of 1.4-1.6 m. It can range in length from 0.86-2.12 m

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Male peacocks are more vibrant than females, with a blue breast and neck, and a bronze-green tail of around 200 feathers

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Females are brownish and smaller than males, and don't have a tail

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Male peacocks are polygamous and establish breeding territories called leks

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They perform a complex courtship dance to attract mates, which involves fanning out their tails and preening their feathers

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The peacock was declared India's national bird in 1963 because of its religious and legendary significance in Indian traditions

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The Indian peacock is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN (International Union for Conversation of Nature) red list

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