The term for these birds is “peafowl.” The males are “peacocks” and the females are “peahens.” The babies are called “peachicks.”

Peacocks are not noisy birds as many believe. They only make their loud calls during mating season and when a predator is nearby.

With its massive tail and iridescent colors, this bird has long fascinated human observers. When a peacock fans its ornamented train for the ladies during mating season, its feathers quiver, emitting a low-frequency sound inaudible to human ears. Depending on whether they want to attract females from far away or up close, they can change the sound by shaking different parts of their feathers. When peacocks mate with peahens, they give out a loud “copulatory call.” The birds can “fake” this call to attract more females. By pretending they are mating when they are not, the birds can convince females they are more sexually active—and therefore genetically fitter—than their rivals.”

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