Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known
for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out
in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s 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.
The collective term for these birds is “peafowl.” The males are
“peacocks” and the females are “peahens.” The babies are called
“peachicks.”
