If a Peacock Loses His Tail Feathers, Do They Grow Back?

By: Cristen Conger  | 
peacocks
Male peafowl – aka peacocks – shed their glorious feathers annually. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

A peacock without his feathers is like a king without a crown, a tiger without its stripes, a cowboy without his boots. The male of the peafowl species, the peacock has long symbolized beauty, regality and pride. Like many male birds, the peacock's appearance far outshines that of the demure peahen, and he showcases these famous feathers to drive those chicks wild.

But every year, toward the end of summer, peacocks finish shaking their tail feathers, and their stunning plumage gradually falls off. This shedding process, called molting, is a common part of most birds' lives. Feathers can wear out and lose their functionality over time, and since these feathers aren't self-regenerating, birds must replace them entirely. This molting process is the same type of biological change that happens when snakes shed their skins. Hormones trigger the beginning of the molting process, which is timed to occur after the mating season to allow for the energy required to grow the new feathers [source: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology].

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In about seven months – in time for the peafowl mating season to come back around – peacocks will regrow their plumes longer and fuller. The peacock's tail reaches peak development around age 6 [source: Hopkins]. In fact, mature peacock trains can extend more than 5 feet (1.7 meters) in length [source: National Zoo]. Because of the size boost from the feathers, peacocks are one of the largest flying birds.

When the old feathers drop, however, people don't let them go to waste. Stretching back to the Phoenicians during biblical times, peacocks were taken from their native residences in India and surrounding countries and transplanted to royal homes [source: National Zoo]. Different peafowl species feature blue, green, white, light brown or purple coloring, but India's blue and green bird is the most common. There, the peacock is not only the highly protected national bird, but also is considered sacred within the Hindu religion. Even today, commercial peacock breeders will save the molts to sell as the demand for these stylish feathers in the home décor and fashion industries endures.

Peacock Tail Feathers

At the top of each peacock train feather, you'll see a round, jewel-toned ocellus or eyespot. Ocellus comes from the Latin word "oculus," which means "eye." These iridescent spots add the exotic dimension to the plumes.

Peacock tail feathers are specially structured to ensure that they reveal each brilliant ocellus whenever the bird fans them out. This is accomplished by combining multiple layers of feathers on top of each other, called upper-tail coverlets [source: National Zoo]. To the naked eye, the ocelli appear different shades of blues and greens, but in actuality, the feather fibers have a black pigment. It's the different angles of the nanoparticles within those fibers that catch and reflect the sunlight to create iridescence [source: Milius].

In rare circumstances, peacocks may be born without any pigment. These albino peacocks are entirely white, although their feather structure remains the same. Even the ocelli are easily detectable.

During mating season, the males clump together in territorial groups called leks. Peahens will stroll through the leks, almost as though window-shopping for a new beau. To grab the females' attention, the peacocks will display their full regalia, stepping around excitedly and shaking their plumes. Ornithologists refer to that dating dance as shivering.

Charles Darwin had speculated that the number and brilliance of those ocelli determine how successfully peacocks will attract peahens. Due to this form of sexual selection, he proposed that peacocks gradually evolved with more ornate trains to appeal to peahens.

But a 2008 study in Japan challenged the long-held belief behind the ornamentation of peacock trains, asserting that the more shake a peacock shows toward a peahen, the greater the likelihood of snagging her. Because of that interaction, the researchers theorized that it is perhaps this movement and mating calls – not the famous ocelli – that influence attraction the most [source: Viegas]. During a seven-year study of peafowl mating rituals, the researchers found that even the peacocks with the drabber fan and fewer ocelli hooked up as much as the showboats. But going up against Darwin isn't a simple feat. The scientific jury is still out on whether we can dismiss peacock ocelli's role with luring the ladies in.

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Peacock Feathers FAQ

Where can I buy peacock feathers?
It is possible to purchase peacock feathers from a vendor online. Before deciding where to purchase, look for a company that discloses how the peacock feathers were procured and what conditions they’re kept in if they’re farmed to ensure you’re getting them ethically.
Do they kill peacocks for their feathers?
Peacocks tend to shed their feathers naturally in a process called molting, which means they aren’t killed. The shedding process begins every year after mating season, between February and August. The feathers are then gathered and sold by vendors.
Are peacocks a symbol of good luck?
Yes. According to some traditions, peacock feathers are considered to bring good luck. For instance, in Hinduism, the peacock is associated with the deity Lakshmi who is the goddess of wealth and good fortune. Similarly, in Buddhism, the peacock is associated with Kwan-yin - the Goddess of Mercy.
Is it good to keep peacock feathers at home?
Some people believe that peacock feathers remove negative energy from a space, replacing it with positive energy. Others believe that they attract wealth, which is why people keep and display these feathers in their homes.
Is it legal to sell peacock feathers?
If the feathers were procured through the natural shedding process of the peacock, then it is perfectly legal. However, killing peacocks to obtain their feathers is considered illegal. The poaching of peacocks for their feathers or otherwise is prohibited in many parts of the world.

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More Great Links

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Molting." (July 10, 2008) http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/studying/feathers/molting/document_view
  • Hopkins, Craig. "Peafowl." United Peafowl Association. December 1997. (July 10, 2008) http://www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/14/
  • Lumpkin, Susan. "At the Zoo: Peafowl!" Zoogoer. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. May/June 2000. (July 10, 2008) http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2000/3/peafowl.cfm
  • Milius, Susan. "How they shine." Science News. June 6, 2008. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/how-they-shine
  • Smithsonian National Zoological Park. "Indian Peafowl." (July 10, 2008) https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/common-peafowl
  • Viegas, Jennifer. "Female Peacocks Not Impressed by Male Feathers." Discovery News. March 26, 2008. (July 10, 2008) https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/03/27/2200822.htm

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