The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), India’s national bird, is one of the most iconic species encountered on wildlife safaris. This striking photograph, captured in Bandhavgarh Forest of Madhya Pradesh, shows a male peacock in full feather display — its iridescent train fanned out like a jewel-studded curtain against the earthy forest backdrop.
Bandhavgarh National Park is world-renowned for its tiger sightings, but its forests are equally alive with vibrant birdlife, of which the peacock is the most dazzling. During the breeding season, male peacocks put on this spectacular display to attract females, shimmering their iconic “eye-spotted” feathers in sunlight while performing a rhythmic dance.
Apart from their beauty, peacocks play an important ecological role by feeding on insects, snakes, and small reptiles, maintaining balance in the forest ecosystem. They are also deeply tied to Indian mythology and culture, often associated with divinity, rain, and celebration.
For safari-goers, a sight like this in Bandhavgarh is a reminder that wildlife encounters go beyond big cats. The forest offers moments of grace and splendor in unexpected forms — like a peacock dance on a dusty safari trail.
Fun Facts
- Bandhavgarh is home to over 250 bird species, including peacocks.
- A peacock’s train can grow longer than its body.
- Only males display their feathers; females are more camouflaged.
- Their calls are often heard before the rains.
- In many cultures, peacock feathers symbolize protection and prosperity.
What the display is actually doing
A displaying peacock is not simply showing off a fan. There is a sequence, and once you know it you can read what stage he is at.
- The raise. He lifts the train and spreads it, then rotates to face the peahen.
- The shiver. He vibrates the train rapidly. This produces the dry rattling you can hear at close range.
- The turn. He periodically turns his back, showing the drab rear of the fan. This is deliberate and part of the routine.
- The rush. If she stays, he may make a short forward run at her with the train still up.
The sound you cannot hear
The shivering display generates infrasound — sound below the range of human hearing — and peahens can detect it.
This means a peacock is broadcasting on a channel we are deaf to, and it may explain why peahens sometimes react to a male they cannot see. It also means that recordings of the display miss part of what is happening.
Why he turns his back
The back of a fanned train is dull brown. Turning it towards a peahen mid-display looks like a mistake, and for a long time nobody was sure what it was for.
Current thinking is that it is part of the assessment sequence — allowing her to see him from behind, and possibly making the contrast of the front view stronger when he turns back. Whatever the mechanism, it is consistent and deliberate rather than random.
What peahens appear to assess
Studies on peafowl point at the eyespots — their number, symmetry and condition — and at the intensity of the shivering display, which is physically demanding.
Carrying and vibrating a train nearly two metres long is a genuine cost. A male who can do it energetically, and still evade predators, is advertising something real about his condition. That is the logic of the whole apparatus.
Where and when to watch
The display season runs largely with the approach of the monsoon and into it. Early morning and late afternoon are best.
Open ground beside forest, village edges and clearings within reserves. Peacocks display where there is space and an audience, so a lekking area will be used repeatedly.
Photographing the display
- Set up and wait. Do not walk towards a displaying bird — he will stop.
- Shoot the shiver, not the static fan. A slightly slower shutter renders the vibration as movement and conveys what is happening.
- Take the rear view. The back of the fan is a photograph almost nobody has.
- Include the peahen if you can. A displaying male alone is a picture; a male displaying to an unimpressed female is a story.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a peacock shake its tail?
The vibration is part of the courtship display and produces infrasound that peahens can detect but people cannot hear.
Why does a peacock turn its back while displaying?
It is a consistent part of the display sequence, thought to be part of how the female assesses him.
When do peacocks display?
Mainly around the monsoon breeding season, most often early morning and late afternoon.
What do peahens look for?
Evidence suggests the eyespots and the vigour of the shivering display, both of which reflect the male’s condition.
Related: Peacock anatomy: why the train is not a tail and Bandhavgarh Safari Guide.