Standing near the cage of a colourful group of peacocks, I marvelled at their bright and iridescent tail feathers. There were about 8-10 peacocks in the cage. Some were perched on tree branches, but a few had spread their trains into magnificent fans.

They seemed to be performing an intricate dance, shaking their feathers and creating a rustling sound. Suddenly one peacock waddled up to me.

“Hello!” it said. And I nearly dropped my purse and the packet of popcorn in my hand.

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, but I thought you were here to interview me. I mean, you have interviewed a mosquito, a spider, a honeybee, a markhor and even a large scary crocodile. It is about time you and the readers must know about me too. After all, I am one of nature’s most stunning creations, if I may say so myself,” said my new acquaintance, strutting around and preening its lovely feathers.

“Hmmm,” I thought to myself. The idiom, as vain as a peacock, flashed through my mind but, of course, it was the peacock itself being, well, just peacock, so I guess that didn’t count as vain.

I dug out my trusted notebook and ballpoint from the depth of my handbag and flipped it open.

“Please tell me a little bit about your species,” I asked my first question.

Looking very pleased with himself, my guest strutted around a bit before answering, “As you may know, peacocks are the male species and our females are called peahens. We are actually called peafowls. Male peafowls have elaborate and vibrant trains. Female peafowls have more muted brown feathers.”

“And why is this so?” I asked.

“It is nature’s way of protecting them. The muted colours help them to blend into their surroundings for protection while nesting.”

“Hmm ... interesting!” I said. “And in which regions are you commonly found?”

“We are native to South Asia, primarily in countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Although we have been introduced to other parts of the world due to our stunning appearance,” said my vain guest before prancing away a few steps.

“Hello ... I still have a few questions,” I said hurriedly.

“Of course, I was just showing off my beautiful plumage. You haven’t asked me any questions about my tail?” it said haughtily.

“Well yes,” I replied a bit flustered. “It’s quite magnificent.”

“Yes, it is. Our tail feathers are called trains. They can reach up to five feet in length. You will be surprised to know that the stunning colours of our train are not due to pigments, but rather due to the structure of the feathers themselves. This phenomenon, called iridescence and is caused by the reflection, refraction and interference of light.”

I looked a bit clueless. Physics wasn’t my strongest subject in school. Looking at the bamboozled look on my face, my new friend decided to take pity on me.

“Our feathers are covered in tiny microscopic crystal-like structures. They reflect different wavelengths of light depending on how they’re spaced, resulting in bright fluorescent colours which you see,” he explained.

“I see… how awesome!” I remarked, highly impressed by the whole phenomenon.

“And what does your diet consist of?” I hurried on to my next question.

“Well, we peacocks are omnivores, so our diet is quite varied. We enjoy eating seeds, fruits, insects, and even small reptiles or amphibians when we can find them. We forage for food in forests, grasslands and even cultivated areas. Our diet ensures we maintain our striking appearance and vibrant plumage.”

“Peacocks are a symbol of beauty and elegance in various cultures around the world. Can you tell me about this feat?” I asked.

“That’s true. Peacocks have been a symbol of grace and royalty in many cultures for centuries. Our appearance has inspired art, fashion and even architecture. Our feathers have been associated with various myths and superstitions.

“For example, in many cultures, peacock feathers are considered a symbol of good luck, prosperity and protection. They are believed to bring positive energy and ward off negative forces. In some traditions, hanging peacock feathers in homes or businesses is thought to bring blessings and safeguard against evil spirits.

“In Hindu mythology, the eyes of the peacock’s feathers are associated with the starry night sky. It is believed that the feathers symbolise the eyes of the gods and carry cosmic powers.

“In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, the peacock was associated with the goddess Hera (Juno in Roman mythology), who was considered the queen of gods. According to one myth, the hundred ‘eyes’ on the peacock’s tail feathers represented the all-seeing eyes of the goddess and her ability to watch over the world,” elaborated my brightly feathered friend.

“Hmm, no wonder it’s so vain and haughty,” I thought to myself.

The jewel-coloured bird seemed to have read my mind as he said, “We are just not pretty birds. We play a very important role in the ecosystem. We dislike snakes and do not let them live within our territory. If we find a snake, we actively fight with it, even if it is a poisonous one and eat them too. So when our population declines in any region, the snakes thrive and become a menace to the human population.”

Well, that put me firmly in my place. I once again marvelled at the fact, that Allah has created nothing in vain and from gigantic crocodiles to tiny flies, each creature has an important role to play in the ecosystem.

“But you do attack human beings sometimes?” I asked a bit timidly.

“Wouldn’t you be angry if someone pulled your hair or took your belongings? We only attack or become aggressive if someone plucks our feathers or comes too close to our nest when there are eggs laid in it,” it replied haughtily. “We have sharp talons and may use our beaks to deliver a painful bite to a human if we feel threatened. We can peck, scratch and use our flight to jump on an offending person and push him down.”

Then I asked my next question. “Are you an endangered species?”

“People do not need to kill us for our feathers like they kill elephants for the tusks or crocodiles for the skin. We shed our feathers regularly and we are not very tasty, so we are safe from hunters and poachers.

“In fact, the people of Thar Desert (Sindh) treat us like family members. Children play with us and locals consider feeding us a religious obligation. In Thar desert, we often roam around human settlements, dancing and fanning our feathers. No Sindhi wedding is complete without popular wedding songs which praise the peacock’s dance.

“However, we frequently fall victim to outbreaks of Newcastle disease, which is locally known as “Ranikhet disease”. Due to environmental changes and a shortage of food and clean water, our immune system becomes weaken and we fall prey to this highly contagious disease. Hundreds of peacocks die every year, but not enough steps are taken to combat climate change, develop an effective immunisation programme against this disease and provide fresh drinking water for us in the region.”

Talking about this issue seemed to make my guest sad. With its head low, it wandered away scratching in the dirt. I also shut my notebook and hoped that my interview would educate people more about this visually stunning bird and its importance in our lives.

Interesting facts about peacocks

• The Indian peacock is the national bird of India, while the Congo peafowl enjoys the status of being the national bird of Democratic Republic of Congo.

• A group of birds is sometimes called an ostentation, a muster, or even a party.

• The average lifespan of a peacock in the wild is about 20 years.

• Peacocks are also known for their loud and distinctive calls. The calls are often described as a high-pitched scream or a series of honking sounds.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 10th, 2024