peacock

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peacock (peafowl) Any of several species of birds of Asia and Africa. The male is called a peacock and the female a peahen, but peacock has become the common name for both sexes. The male has a 150cm (60in) tail, which it can spread vertically as a semi-circular fan with a pattern of eye-like shapes. The body of the male may be metallic blue, green or bronze, depending on the species. Hens are almost as big as the males; they lack the tail and head ornaments, and are brown, red or green. In the wild, peafowl inhabit open, lowland forests, and roost in trees. Length of body: 75cm (30in). Family Phasianidae; genera Pavo and Afropavo.

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