India's National Bird
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Peacock
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The Indian peacock, Pavo
cristatus (Linnaeus), is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped
crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck.
The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a
glistening blue breast and neck, and a spectacular bronze-green train of
around 200 elongated feathers. The female is brownish, slightly smaller
than the male, and lacks the train. The elaborate courtship dance of the
male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a gorgeous
sight. The peacock is widely found in the Indian sub-continent from the
south and east of the Indus river, Jammu and Kashmir, east Assam, south
Mizoram and the whole of the Indian peninsula. The peacock enjoys
immense protection. It is fully protected under the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972. |
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