Indian Peacock – Bird Art Print on Wood

This listing is for a limited edition, fine art print of my original painting of an Indian Peacock titled, “Psst…There’s No Expiration Date on Your Dreams”

So this title is a bit cheesier than my usual, but perhaps I’m trying to be a little more optimistic these days.

I started an exercise and wellness program recently (yay!) and while hiking up a steep incline, the exercise instructor exclaimed, “It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Dreams don’t expire!” And I thought to myself, yes… that’s true. If a 100 year old man can run a marathon, what can you do?

About the Indian Peacock

Fun facts from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

An unmistakable, large ground bird. The unmistakable iridescent blue male spreads out its ornamental upper tail feathers when courting females. Females have a shorter tail, an iridescent green neck, and browner plumage. Found in forest, forest edge, and agricultural land. Often seen on paths or alertly feeding in the undergrowth. Can be fairly confiding especially when found close to human habitation. Its loud screaming “may-yow” calls are heard incessantly during the rainy season.

Indian blue peafowl require a lot of water to drink, but will not bathe in water because it weighs down their feathers. If their feathers do get wet, they wait in a safe location until they are dry. Instead of water baths, they take dust baths which help to get rid of any parasites or bugs. Peafowl spend a lot of time preening their feathers, especially the males whose mating success is very reliant on their displays.

Only the females are involved in the incubating of the eggs and the rearing of the chicks. Chicks are mobile and fully feathered at hatching, can fly in about one week, and rely on their mother for only an additional few weeks. If the female mates with a favored male, they usually have larger eggs with a higher amount of testosterone deposited in the yolk. Chicks of males who have the largest or most eye-spots tend to grow faster and have a better survival rate.

Pavo cristatus feather extract in the form of water or ash can be used to treat the poisonous bites of Russell vipers Vipera russelii, common cobras Naja naja, and Malabar pit vipers Trimeresurus malabaricus. The extract is high in iron, protein, and steroids, and acts as an inhibitor to harmful enzymes in the venom that cause tissue damage. This is a traditional treatment in India for those who live far away from hospitals and doctors.

Range Map of the Indian Peafowl