The Dance of the Peacock

Stranded in Florida for 24 hours because the airline cancelled my connecting flight, I found the nearest botanical gardens for entertainment.

Indian peacocks paraded around the grounds delighting visitors with their size and beauty.

It’s hard to believe that this is a male bird. The long, exquisite train of feathers reminds me of a queen’s elegant tresses.

The iridescent blue of the neck and chest alone makes for striking adornment.

The peacock’s call is very loud, startling even, if you have never heard it before.

The regal blue transitions into a golden-green iridescent patch on the back surrounded by a black and white feather pattern that includes rust-orange on the sides of the body.

The striking tail feathers are marked by bright blue and green “eyes.”

His claws are impressive and can be used to threaten competitors during mating time.

But nothing rivals the full display of the feathers in a radial pattern.

When he has assured himself that I admired him sufficiently, he begins to twirl until his backside is visible signaling the end of the show.

It must take considerable strength to raise the weight of these feathers and then to fly high up into the trees, or even just up on the roof shed as is the case here. I like to think that the male is joining his bride up there on the roof.

Don’t they make a magnificent couple?!