30 Peacock Quotes to Inspire Beauty and Confidence
If someone asks you what's the most beautiful bird, you might answer peacocks. The large, colorful pheasants have brilliant feathers, which have made them the symbol of beauty, royalty, and good fortune for many cultures throughout history. Their vibrant blue and green feathers fan out into a glamorous display that can reach up to five feet in length. From environmentalists to artists, these handpicked peacock quotes capture the pride and grace of the species.
There are only three peacock species in the wild. The most recognizable one, the blue peacock, lives in India and Sri Lanka. Next are the green peacock residing in Java and Myanmar. Finally, a lesser-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rainforests, and they closely resemble the typical pheasants.
Want to uncover more about these flashy birds? Continue reading our article about peacock quotes.
Or for more from our feathered friends, you might also like to read up about the types of owls and check our list of bird facts and find out which is the smallest bird in the world.
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Best Peacock Quotes About The Magnificent Bird Strutting In The Wild
When you see a peacock strutting with the feathers fanned out, that's most likely a male courting a female. The more technical term for the birds is peafowl, with the name peacocks given to males, which are distinguishable by their long iridescent plumage. In comparison, the female with short brown feathers is called a peahen.
Their courtship display is quite remarkable. While strutting, the male will fan out his tail feathers and rattle them at 25.6 Hz on average to attract the attention of nearby females1. Both genders also make deceptive copulation calls to find each other during mating season2.
Check out how these passionate pheasants inspire the people below through their peacock quotes.
Funny Peacock Quotes To Put A Smile On Your Face
Who in the world is not mesmerized by a peacock's feather? Interestingly, the pigment of their plumage is brown. Since no actual color blue is present in nature, animals like peacocks trick our eyes by reflecting light. The light hitting the microscopic structure of their tail feathers gave the birds their iridescent sheen of blue, green, yellow, and copper. It takes two years for a baby peacock, born with dull grayish-brown color, to develop its varicolored feathers.
Some peacocks can be entirely white due to a genetic mutation known as leucism. This mutation causes a partial loss of all pigments, resulting in white feathers. Therefore, some might refer to them as "albinos." However, this is not accurate since albinism is a lack of melanin pigments only. Leucistic peacocks are rare, so it's a special treat if you see one in the wild!
All in all, peacock feathers are indeed a sight to behold. But they can make us laugh too. So check out the funny peacock quotes below to brighten your day.
Metaphorical Peacock Quotes To Think About
Describing someone as a peacock is often used to convey the idea of vanity or excessive self-esteem. The pheasants' bright colors and dramatic display are associated with someone seeking attention or displaying their supposed superiority. For example, one might say, "He was strutting around the party like a peacock, trying to show off for everyone."
However, peacocks can also be used to describe someone confident and proud in a positive way. Peacocks can represent someone who radiates a sense of self-worth and carries themselves with dignity.
For example, one might say, "She had a majestic presence, like a peacock in full display." They can also describe someone beautiful, graceful, and eye-catching, such as "She was the most beautiful person in the room, like a peacock among the other birds."
Learn how to make your everyday language more colorful with the peacock quotes below.
Other Quotes About Peacocks By Authors And Poets
The peacock holds a unique place in history with its enchanting presence. In India, the peacock is the national bird and is present in multiple legends, like the story of them dancing for Lord Krishna and hiding Lord Indra from his enemy. In Greek mythology, Hera transferred a hundred eyes of Argus, her faithful servant, to the tail of a peacock before Zeus could kill him.
The iridescent birds are also visible in early Christian art. Since they believed their feathers didn't decay, they made peacocks symbols of immortality. In Judaism, the bird signifies joy and creativity, while in China, it represents beauty and dignity.
The creatures' visual prowess also made them an inspiration for authors and poets. Read their works in the peacock quotes below.
1 | Dakin, R., McCrossan, O., Hare, J. F., Montgomerie, R., & Kane, S. A. (2016). Biomechanics of the Peacock’s Display: How Feather Structure and Resonance Influence Multimodal Signaling. PLOS ONE, 11(4), e0152759. |
2 | Dakin R, Montgomerie R. Deceptive copulation calls attract female visitors to peacock leks. Am Nat. 2014 Apr;183(4):558-64. doi: 10.1086/675393. Epub 2014 Mar 5. |