12 Elusively Blue Animals: The Rarest Creatures of All
Indian Peafowl
A blue and green peacock standing in a forest and displaying its tail feathers
Richard I'Anson / Getty Images
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is an iconic bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent that is famous for its intricate, brightly colored feathers. Only male peafowls, known as peacocks, possess such bright blue and green feathers. Female peafowls, known as peahens, have only a few green feathers on their necks and are mostly dull brown in color. Peahens also lack the massive, colorful train of tail feathers that males possess. The bright coloration of the males is likely a result of sexual selection, as brightly colored peacocks are more attractive to peahens and are thus more likely to find mates. Peacocks also engage in elaborate courting displays during which they display and shake their large trains to attract peahens.
Like those of blue jays, peacock feathers contain the black pigment melanin, and their blue coloration is derived from their structure. Peacock feathers contain a crystalline lattice of microscopic rods that reflect light, causing them to appear blue. Their green feathers receive their coloration from a similar structure.
A blue and green peacock standing in a forest and displaying its tail feathers
Richard I'Anson / Getty Images
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is an iconic bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent that is famous for its intricate, brightly colored feathers. Only male peafowls, known as peacocks, possess such bright blue and green feathers. Female peafowls, known as peahens, have only a few green feathers on their necks and are mostly dull brown in color. Peahens also lack the massive, colorful train of tail feathers that males possess. The bright coloration of the males is likely a result of sexual selection, as brightly colored peacocks are more attractive to peahens and are thus more likely to find mates. Peacocks also engage in elaborate courting displays during which they display and shake their large trains to attract peahens.
Like those of blue jays, peacock feathers contain the black pigment melanin, and their blue coloration is derived from their structure. Peacock feathers contain a crystalline lattice of microscopic rods that reflect light, causing them to appear blue. Their green feathers receive their coloration from a similar structure.
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30 August 2023
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