Peacock Wall Of Enchantment

Description

A enchanting peacock perches on a wall showing off his impressive train of peacock feathers

The male peacock sports about 150 of the long “eyed” peacock tail feathers with which most of us are so familiar.These feathers are actually long extensions of the upper tail covers. They are supported from underneath by the much shorter tail feathers. These feathers grow to be several feet long, but are shed each year just after the breeding season and regrown the following season. The eyed tail feathers grow in size and number as the male matures. Each of these long feathers also has a design near its tip which resembles an eye.

The feathers of the peacock are composed of many colors, including the crescent sheen of bright blue and green. The shimmering color of the peacock feather is due to a phenomena known as interference. Each feather consists of tiny flat flat branches. When light shines on the feather, we see thousands of glimmering colored spots, each caused by minuscule bowl-shaped indentations. This same principle is also responsible for vibrant shimmering colors of butterflies, pheasants, birds of paradise and humming birds. Recreating the unique color of the peacock feather has posed a challenge to artists and ceramists for centuries