PEACOCK (BLUE PEAFOWL): Love of Home

Native to Asia and the Congo Region of Africa, Peacock (Blue Peafowl) is a relative of the Pheasants. (The difference between the Two is their plumage–red and gold for Pheasants, green and blue for Peafowls.) As India’s National Bird, Peacock (AKA Male Blue Peafowl) is known the world over for his bright train of feathers. Because of this, Peacock has been introduced to other places, starting in Mesopotamia about 4,000 years ago.

Displaying his train is part of Peacock’s courtship with the Peahens. The longer his train, the more impressed will Peahen be. Unlike her male counterpart, Peahen is chestnut brown and bronze green but has the same crest as Peacock.

Blue Peafowl are Birds of habit, eating and sleeping in the same area all their lives. Peacock even displays his train in the same chosen place. During the day, Blue Peafowl sit in thickets. At dusk, They return to the same watering hole before roosting for the night. As They go to their tree roosts, Blue Peafowl screech to each other.

Known for their screeching, Blue Peafowl hoot loud alarm calls when They see a Tiger. During the monsoon season in India, people hear loud meowing calls from Blue Peafowl. Indians claim that Blue Peafowl are predicting the next rainstorm with their calls.

Blue Peafowl teaches the love of home. They emerge from their area of the dense forest in early dawn to feed at their regular spot and find water. Then They go about feeding on Insects or Mice. At dusk, They return home. To Blue Peafowl, there is something comforting about being a homebody. (Just remember to have a little adventure in your life once in a while.)
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Male Peafowl are Peacocks; Females Peahens; Chicks Peachicks.

Quail: Quiet Valour

QUAIL (OLD WORLD): Quiet Valour

Thought of as stout little Birds, Quails are remarkable for their hardiness. When Quail are cold, They form star-shaped Bevies (flocks) to receive warmth from each other. In addition, these short legged Birds with round heads, will often post sentries to watch for intruders. Their plumage provides such excellent camouflage that rarely does anyone notice Them until They call “wet-my-lips” or “whit-whit’tit”. (Because Quails’ calls are so distinctive, some cuckoo clocks have Them sound on the quarter hours.)

Surprisingly, Quails are well-regarded in many cultures. For the Chinese, Quails were the Fire Phoenix of Spring and Summer. Among the Hindus, these Birds represented the returning Sun. Furthermore, these unassuming Birds were also the emblem of the Russian Tsars.

Few would regard Quails as charismatic Birds. However, people do notice Quail’s ways of protecting each other. Some Quails post sentries while other Quails direct the Predator away from the Bevy. In their own way, Quails demonstrate valour. Without much fuss and attention, They do what they need to do. Remember as Quails teach: “Just do it!”

Science Note:

1. Old World Quails are Phasianidae while New World Quails are Odontophoridae. They both belong to the Superfamily of Phasianoidea, but are not close relatives of each other. Meanwhile, Button Quails, which are Turnicidae, are members of the Rail and Crane Family, and are not relatives of either Quail groups.

Copywrite: Virginia Carper, 2009, animalteachers @ gmail.com

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Red Junglefowl: Change the Status Quo

The gloriously coloured ancestor of the Domestic Chicken, Red Junglefowl is from the forests of South and Southeast Asia. Wary and shy, He prefers life there in the underbrush where He is safe. A nimble flier, Red Junglefowl will escape from a Predator by chimneying (flying upwards in a circle) through in an opening in the forest.

Life for Red Junglefowl revolves around establishing his place in the Flock. As a Chick, He spars with the other Males while Female Chicks spar with each other. Later He will spar with the winning Females. Every place in Red Junglefowls flock is earned. However when He perceives weaknesses in any of the other Birds, He challenges Them.

The most abundant Bird in the world, Domestic Chicken is even more prolific than people. First domesticated in the Indus River Valley between 3200 and 2500 BCE, Domestic Chicken spread to Persia and Mesopotamia, finally reaching Egypt in 1500 BCE and China by 1400 BCE. The reason for Chicken’s popularity was his ability to fight well. (Cockfighting once had religious overtones.)

An important aspect of Red Junglefowl’s life is defining his place in the social pecking order of his Flock. Constantly vying for leadership, each Bird knows when to fight, when to back off, and when to stop. In each case, Red Junglefowl ably demonstrates the many aspects of competition. Never settling for the status quo, He challenges it. Just remember like Red Junglefowl to back off when your endeavours seem futile.

Lessons of the Turkey: Blessings

TURKEY: Blessings
Well-known for his metallic rainbow of feathers, Turkey was called the “Jeweled Bird” by the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec peoples. The largest and showiest of Game Birds in North America, He also has a bright red snood and throat wattle. For the peoples of Mexico, the Jeweled Bird was a Gift from the Gods. For offering to Chalchiuhtotolin (“Jade Turkey”), they would cast solid gold ornaments of Turkeys.

Meanwhile among Native Americans of the North, Turkey was known as “the Earth Eagle”. Because He was close to the earth, Turkey represented the Earth Mother. As Eagle brought messages from the Sky Father, so did the Turkey from the Earth Mother. Other peoples called Him, the “Give Away Bird” because Turkey fed so many. Only the Dakota regarded Turkey to be a stupid Bird.

Domesticated by the Aztecs, Turkey took Europe by storm as the Bird to be served at feasts. In the 1500s, the Spanish Crown required their traders to return from the New World with Turkeys as part of their cargoes. Meanwhile, King Henry VIII served Turkey at his festivities. Turkey was such a major part of European diets that the Pilgrims brought these Birds with them to the New World. Little did they know that Turkeys were native to North America.

Turkey eats what He can find on the forest floor whether it be acorns, beans, Crustaceans, Insects, or roots. This hardy Bird is able to withstand the bitter winters of the North Woods. In the spring, his breast sponge stores fat so that He can court Hen Turkeys without stopping to eat. Often He and His Brother will court a group of Hens together to form their Harem.

Hens who want either Tom Turkey will lie down in front of one of them. Later She will lay Eggs, usually in a common nest. Otherwise, Hens and Toms live separate lives, even roosting in separate trees.

As the “Jeweled Fowl”, Turkey brings blessings to all, for He can feed many at once. Prolific in his life, Turkey brings bounty to all who will share. He only asks that they live abundantly and give to others.
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Science Notes:

1. The Pheasant grouping of birds is a large family. Phasianidae includes grouse, jungle fowl (chicken), Old World quail, peafowl, pheasants and turkeys. New World quails belong to the Family of Odontophoridae, which are distant relatives of Phasianidae.

2. The two species of Turkeys are Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata).

3. Australian Brush Turkey is a member of the Family of Megopodiidae (birds that build mounds to bury their eggs). Although they are both land fowls, Australian Brush Turkey is only distantly related to Wild Turkey.

4. Australian Bustard sometimes called Scrub Turkey belongs to the family of Gruiformes (crane-like birds).