The feather train on male peacocks is among the most striking and beautiful physical attributes in nature, but it fails to excite, much less interest, females, according to new research.

The determination throws a wrench in the long-held belief that male peacock feathers evolved in response to female mate choice. It could also indicate that certain other elaborate features in galliformes, a group that includes turkeys, chickens, grouse, quails and pheasants, as well as peacocks, are not necessarily linked to fitness and mating success.

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The term peafowl can refer to the two species of bird in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen. Although commonly used, peacock is an incorrect term to refer to both sexes. The two species are: Indian Peafowl and Green Peafowl.

Peafowl are omnivorous and consume plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects, and other arthropods, as well as reptiles and amphibians. Although possessing metatarsal spurs—”thorns” used for kicking, they are used only for defence against predators.

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There are two primary species of peafowl found in the wild: India Blue and Green. Crossing Blue and Green peafowl results in a hybrid bird called a Spalding, named after the woman who first bred them. Unlike most hybrids, Spaldings are fertile and can reproduce.

Over many years of captivity color and pattern mutations have arisen from selective breeding that are presumably not found in the wild. There are currently 10 known color mutations (blue, white, cameo, purple, peach, opal, charcoal, midnight, jade, buford bronze) and 5 pattern mutations (barred wing, blackshoulder, pied, silver pied, white eye).

{ Peafowl varieties database }

photos { White Peacock, frequently mistaken for an albino | Blue and white peacock }

READ MORE >> science, animals | March 28th, 2008