With its massive tail and iridescent colors, this bird has long fascinated its human

observersand were still learning its secrets. For example, a study recently published
in The British Journal of Animal Behaviour says that when a peacock fans its
ornamented train for the ladies during mating season, its feathers quiver, emitting a lowfrequency sound inaudible to human ears. Depending on whether they want to attract
females from far away or up close, they can change the sound by shaking different parts
of their feathers. (Theyre not the only animals that create infrasonic sounds.
Elephants produce them with their vocal cords, most likely to communicate over long
distances.) Here are a few other interesting facts about these impressive birds.

1. ONLY THE MALES ARE ACTUALLY PEACOCKS.

The collective term for these birds is peafowl. The males are peacocks and the
females are peahens. The babies are called peachicks.

2. A FAMILY OF PEAFOWL IS CALLED A BEVY.

A group of the birds is also sometimes called an ostentation, a muster, or even a

party.

3. THEYRE NOT BORN WITH THEIR FANCY TAIL FEATHERS.

The male peachicks dont start growing their showy trains until about age three. In fact,
its hard to tell the sex of a peachick because theyre nearly identical to their mothers.