The peahen, the female of the species collectively known as peafowl, is often overshadowed by the male’s dramatic visual display. While the peacock is famed for his iridescent, sweeping train, the peahen possesses a more subdued appearance, a distinction known as sexual dimorphism. This less-striking coloration is an adaptation fundamental to the female’s survival and reproductive success in the wild. Her physical features and behaviors are finely tuned for camouflage, nesting, and raising young.
Defining the Peahen and Its Species
The term “peafowl” refers to both sexes of this large bird species belonging to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Specifically, the male is the peacock, the female is the peahen, and the offspring are known as peachicks. The most recognized species is the Indian or Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), native to the Indian subcontinent, including India and Sri Lanka. A second species is the Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), found across Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to Java. A third, lesser-known species, the Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis), inhabits the forested interior of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Indian peahen is the one most commonly encountered and studied.
Distinctive Physical Characteristics
The peahen’s appearance is characterized by a practical, cryptic coloration that contrasts sharply with the male’s vibrant plumage. Indian peahens are smaller, generally weighing between 6 and 9 pounds (2.7–4.1 kg), and measure approximately 35 to 43 inches in length. They lack the male’s massive train, possessing only a much shorter tail. Her body plumage is mostly a mottled blend of dull gray, brown, and cream, with whitish underparts.
This coloration allows her to blend into the undergrowth and ground cover where she nests. The female’s head features a fan-shaped crest, or corona, similar to the male, but it is a less vibrant, more neutral shade. The Indian peahen displays some subtle coloration, primarily an iridescent metallic green sheen on the lower neck. The lack of the cumbersome train grants the peahen a significant advantage in mobility and flight, making her a more agile flier important for escaping predators and reaching high tree branches for night roosting.
Key Reproductive and Social Behaviors
The peahen plays the primary role in mate selection, driving the evolution of the peacock’s elaborate display. Peafowl are lek-mating birds; males gather in small territories to display, and peahens visit these sites to assess potential mates. Peahens are discerning, basing their choice on cues regarding the male’s health and genetic quality. They evaluate the quality of the male’s train, paying attention to the iridescence, symmetry, and the number of eyespots (ocelli) on the feathers. A male’s ability to maintain a vibrant, symmetrical train signals robust health, which the peahen seeks to pass on to her offspring.
Following mating, the peahen undertakes all parental duties, starting with nest construction. She creates a shallow depression on the ground in a secluded location, often concealed beneath thick cover. The peahen typically lays a clutch of four to eight whitish eggs, which she incubates for approximately 28 days. The female is the sole caregiver for the peachicks, raising them without the male’s assistance, which is characteristic of the species’ polygamous nature. After the breeding season, peafowl forage in small groups called musters, often consisting entirely of peahens and their young.