The peahen is the female counterpart to the peacock. Unlike the peacock’s extravagant train tail, peahens have a more subdued appearance with dull brown plumage, a white face, and an iridescent green lower neck. Their wing feathers are soft, suitable for making flies, and the back feathers are also soft and useful for crafting wings. Additionally, they possess herl with hues ranging from greenish to black or dun.
Found mainly on the ground in open forests or cultivated areas, the Indian peafowl, to which peahens belong, is an omnivorous bird. It feeds on berries, grains, and prey like snakes, lizards, and small rodents. Its loud calls serve as an alert for predators in forested regions. Peafowl typically forage in small groups on the ground and prefer running through undergrowth rather than flying, although they roost in tall trees.
Adult peahens have a rufous-brown head with a crest edged in chestnut and green. Their upper bodies are brownish with pale mottling, while their primaries, secondaries, and tails are dark brown. The lower neck displays a metallic green sheen, and the breast feathers are dark brown with a green gloss. Underparts are generally whitish in color. Downy young peahens are pale buff with a dark brown mark extending from the nape to the eyes. Young males resemble females but have chestnut-colored wings.
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