Only the Male Is a Peacock, and That Is Not a Tail
A peacock is the male of the peafowl. The famous fan is not his tail but his tail coverts, and the female is a peahen.
A peacock is the male peafowl; the female is a peahen and the species collectively is peafowl. Two things surprise people. The magnificent fan is not the tail but the tail coverts, the feathers that cover the true tail beneath. And the whole train is moulted and regrown every year.
- A male peafowl. *A peacock on the lawn.*
- A vain person. *Strutting like a peacock.*
- Peacock blue — a deep greenish blue. *A peacock blue coat.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | peacock | A displaying peacock. |
| Female | peahen | A peahen and chicks. |
| Species | peafowl | Indian peafowl. |
| Young | peachick | Three peachicks. |
| Group | muster / ostentation | An ostentation of peacocks. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The peacock spread his train.Train, not tail.
- Peahens are brown and far better camouflaged.They sit on nests.
- He was peacocking around the office.Showing off.
Facts about peafowl
- Train — up to 150 feathers, moulted yearly
- Eyespots — the ocelli females appear to assess
- Call — a loud carrying cry, audible for kilometres
- Native range — India and Sri Lanka for the blue species
- Green peafowl — a separate and endangered species of south-east Asia
From Old English *pea*, from Latin *pavo*, plus *cock*. Ancient trade brought both the bird and its name westward from India.
Is a female called a peacock?
Strictly no. She is a peahen, and peafowl covers both. In everyday speech peacock is often used for the species.
Is the fan a tail?
No. It is made of the upper tail coverts. The real tail feathers are short and hidden behind them.