Male peacocks are some of the most spectacular birds in the world. They enjoy pacing their bright iridescent colors and decorative tail plumage that shimmers in the sun for all females to see. Tail feathering seems to play a role in the courtship process. It is believed that the physical characteristics of tail feathers, including their length, symmetry and even the number of “eye spots” at the ends, convey important information about the health and vitality of the male to potential mates. This is because they seem to require a lot of energy and nutrients to maintain them properly.
Peacock is a member of the pheasant family; There are two Asian species, the Indian peafowl of the Indian subcontinent and the green peacock of Southeast Asia, as well as one African species, the Congo peacock. All three have a broadly similar omnivorous diet, but they differ in several important details. In this article, we will share some interesting facts about what they eat and how they are obtained.
A quick note on the use of terms: the male is usually called a peacock, and the female is usually called a peacock. The group as a whole is called the peacock. However, in this article, peacocks will be used for both males and females.
What does the peacock eat?
Peacocks are best described as opportunistic omnivores. They enjoy eating all kinds of foods, including grains, herbs (such as bamboo), berries, leaves, figs, seeds, flowers, insects, worms, and small reptiles and mammals. They also occasionally raid crops such as tomatoes and peppers. Their diet simply depends on what is available at the time, depending on the season and location. For example, the Congo peacock’s diet is likely to consist of oil palm and African breadfruit. In the Indian state of Gujarat, peacocks love to eat the berries of some buckthorn plants. Various power schemes can be found throughout their range.
Peacocks, like many other birds, are specially adapted to a diet dominated by plants. They have a special organ called the stomach to break down food, located next to the digestive system. This organ helps them grind tough foods from grains and other plants. The peacock swallows the pebbles and stores them in the stomach to facilitate the grinding process.
In the wild, peacocks are daytime foragers. At night, they sleep in large groups, usually hiding in tall open trees, and in the morning they break up into smaller groups to get their own food. They usually take a break in the middle of the day to brush their feathers, resting comfortably in the shade, and then return to foraging for one last time before darkness deepens.
During the breeding season, peacock feeding groups usually consist of males and females alike. But as soon as the breeding season sets in, the gatherer group consists of a harem with one dominant male and many females; the rest of the males stay for food together in bachelor groups.
Peacocks are believed to play an important ecological role in regulating the numbers of snakes, lizards, insects and other common animals. This helps to prevent the dominance of any one animal in the ecosystem.
What grains do peacocks eat?
Peacocks love to eat all types of grains, including oats and corn. They are not very picky about what they eat.
What do peacocks eat in the wild?
In the wild, peacocks eat their usual omnivorous food consisting of grains, berries, leaves, insects, etc. However, in captivity, they are usually fed a mixture of pellets, chopped greens, chopped fruits, bread, boiled rice, corn, and other foods. items designed to reproduce their natural omnivorous diet. Peacocks can live in captivity for quite a long time (some reports indicate up to 30-40 years), because they are less afraid of hunger, predation and disease. However, problems arise if they become too sedentary. Wild peacocks must constantly move in search of food, but in captivity they often expect food to come to them. Therefore, they can develop gout and kidney problems that can shorten their life.
What do peacocks eat in winter?
Peacocks do not have a special winter diet, but sometimes they react to changes in the season by switching to other food sources.
How do peacocks eat snakes?
Peacocks seem to view snakes as a natural threat, not just a food source. These birds will attack snakes when they appear, pecking them on the ground, regardless of whether the snakes are venomous or not. They are so revered for their ability to eat young cobras that their name in Sanskrit (the language of South Asia) means “slayer of snakes.”
What do young peacocks eat?
Unlike many other bird species, peacock chicks are very mobile from the moment of birth and feed themselves. They will be able to fly in just a week. Many baby peacocks will follow their mother during the first few weeks of their life and eat mostly adult food. They are almost completely independent when they learn to collect food correctly.
Complete list of 10 best peacock foods
The peacock has a long and varied diet. It is difficult to list specific types. Instead, they can consume almost any food listed in the following groups:
- Grains
- Berries
- Leaves
- Herbs
- Parts of flowers
- Insects
- worms
- Snakes
- Lizards
- Small mammals
Next: Meet the Cuckoo: The Bird That Steals Nests