Peacock feathers
© sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Image
Bright and colourful peacock feathers
Peacock feathers, multicoloured and radiant, are instantly recognisable. Their signature ‘eyespots’ flash in the light when a male displays for a nearby peahen, which is the female species’ name. The colourful nature of the feathers is scientifically fascinating. Instead of the colours being composed of individual pigments, iridescence of the peacock's hues is caused by the microscopic crystal-like structures of the feathers. As the feathers shift, so does the colour of the feather. This iridescent show is all done to attract a mate. When mating season is over, males lose their feathers, making it easy for us to collect them for display, art, or simply a reminder of nature’s beauty.
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