Peafowl are recognized globally for the striking appearance of the adult male. This creature, known for its magnificent, iridescent display, captures the attention of observers worldwide. However, the exact terminology for the female and the young is often a source of common confusion. Understanding the specific nomenclature helps correctly identify the different genders and age groups.
Defining the Peafowl Family Terms
The general, collective term for the species is Peafowl, which accurately refers to both the male and the female birds. The male bird is correctly called a Peacock, a name often used colloquially to refer to the species as a whole. The female is known as a Peahen, and she is notably smaller and less ornate than her male counterpart.
The definitive answer to the question of what baby peacocks are called is the term Peachick. This single name is used to refer to any young peafowl, whether it is a male destined to become a peacock or a female that will mature into a peahen. Using these precise terms clarifies the age and gender distinctions within the peafowl family, moving beyond the casual use of “peacock” for every member.
Appearance and Characteristics of the Peachick
A peachick emerges from its egg as a highly precocial bird, meaning it is covered in down and is capable of walking and feeding itself almost immediately after hatching. This immediate independence contrasts with many other bird species, and the ability to follow the peahen is a crucial survival mechanism in their natural habitat.
The newly hatched peachick is covered in a light, soft down, typically in shades of yellow, tan, or light brown. This subdued coloration provides excellent camouflage, allowing the small bird to blend into the undergrowth and avoid detection from predators. They also have striped wing feathers, giving them a gamebird appearance, which further aids in their concealment.
A peachick’s initial diet consists of small insects, tender plant shoots, and grains that they forage for on the ground alongside their mother. They grow rapidly during their first few weeks of life, quickly increasing in size and mobility. Unlike the adults, the young birds lack any of the vibrant blue or green iridescence that defines the mature peafowl.
The famed train of the male is entirely absent in the young bird, as are the bright colors of the adult male’s body plumage. Peachicks are physically very similar to one another, and it is difficult to determine the gender of the young birds by sight alone immediately after hatching. The development of a small crest of feathers on the head is one of the earliest visible changes, usually appearing within the first few months.
The Timeline of Maturation
The physical uniformity of young peafowl continues for several months, making gender differentiation challenging. Juvenile males and females look strikingly alike for the first few months, often retaining their dull, protective plumage. However, by about five to six months, subtle differences may begin to appear, such as the male’s neck feathers starting to show slight coloration.
The process of a male peachick developing into a mature peacock takes a considerable amount of time. Males do not begin to develop the long, elaborate train feathers until they are in their second year of life. These feathers are not true tail feathers but elongated upper-tail coverts.
A male peafowl is considered fully mature and capable of breeding around the age of two to three years. However, the magnificent train, which is the result of those upper-tail covert feathers, is not fully grown and decorated with the characteristic eyespots until the male reaches approximately four years of age. Each year, the male molts these long feathers, regrowing them in time for the next breeding season.
The peahen reaches sexual maturity faster than the male, often around the age of one year. The peahen also does not undergo the dramatic plumage change, retaining her predominantly brown and gray feathers throughout her life. The gradual acquisition of adult size and the full development of the male’s display features illustrate a long, steady maturation process for the peafowl species.