This month, as part of her 2020 photographic technique and topics challenge, Jude is encouraging us to to be creative with patterns. So far however the weather has had other plans for me every day I have had free to go out with the camera.

Peacock Square

But rather than fail this week’s assignment of ‘looking at patterns from a different perspective‘ I thought I’d delve into my archives. Fortunately Jude gave permission as look what I found!

Ok I admit I didn’t look up or down, or shoot from a distance for this one Jude. However it certainly it not the usual perspective, and it is a great example of contrasting patterns that complement. Have you worked out what it is yet?

You’ve probably figured out it is a bird but what species is it? Here it is un-cropped, and I suspect you will need to look closely at the feathers in the top left hand corner to be absolutely certain about what bird it is.

Peacock Bottom

I must admit I was more enthralled by the back view than the front, and clearly this peacock knew that as he kept showing us his side and back rather than presenting his front to the crowd that had gathered around him. He is, I feel, a fabulous example of patterns in nature as everywhere you look there are patterns.

Peacock Side View

Peafowls are pheasants, and there are three species. This one, the Indian peafowl is also known as the common or blue peafowl. The others are the Congo peafowl, which is much smaller and pheasant like, and the Green peafowl, which as its name suggest is green! The white peafowl is not a different species, nor is it albino. They have leucism, which means a loss of pigmentation. Any other colours such as black or red are the product of selective breeding.

Peacock

The display of the full train is part of the mating ritual, and the males will ‘shiver’ to cause their feathers to rapidly move. The sight and sound of the movement captures the peahens attention as well as us humans! Apparently there is an ongoing debate within the ornithological world as to whether the size of train and number of ‘eyes’ on the train influence the females in selecting their mate. Recent research seems to indicate it doesn’t, however what is certain is that the size of this train indicates the peacock is at least four years old and that it is in good health.

40 thoughts

  1. Pingback: 2020 Photo Challenge #7 – TRAVEL WORDS

  9. I like the back as well. Great colours. There is a Coucal Pheasant in Australia but they are shy and have never seen their tail display if they have one. The Lyre Bird has good display tail feathers too 🙂

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      5. That have been recorded and put on his website but possibly yes. I don’t think the migratory species are recorded on there.

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  12. Love peacocks and the patterns you have found here, getting close really was different. Their back views are interesting, I got lots of shots of a peacock in Cascais like this. Thanks Becky 🤗

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