Peacock Feathers - About Peacocks

SOME NOTES ABOUT PEACOCKS AND PEACOCK FEATHERS;
Indian Peacocks or peafowl (pavo cristatus) have been domesticated for about 3000 years. A common fixture on zoo grounds, animal parks, and many farms and estates around the world, peacocks are among nature's most dramatically beautiful birds. Their native range is through India, Pakistan, western China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The peacock's preferred habitat is lowland and foothills with brush and scattered trees which they use for roosting. Related species include pheasants, grouse, guinea fowl, quail, chickens, and other gallinaceous birds.
The male peacock sports about 150 of the long "eyed" peacock tail feathers with which most of us are so familiar. These feathers are shed annually during the molt and gathered as a valuable "crop" in many countries through its range.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. 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 Crescent sheens 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.
There is a variety of peacock with all white feathers. These are not albino but a color variation of the India Blue peacock. White peacock feathers are rare and difficult to keep in stock. Lamplight occasionally has a limited supply of white peacock feathers from a local farmer in July and August.
Peacock feathers have a variety of decorative uses. Placed in a vase for home decor, they stand on their own or in combination with long dried reeds.
The beautiful feathers can be incorporated into costumes, mask, head dresses, feather fans, and unique and colorful jewelry like earring, pendants, or full necklace wear. The side fibers (herl) are an important ingredient in fishing fly design most famously in the legendary Royal Coachman pattern. The peacock sword feathers are side tails that are eventually replaced by full eyed feathers as the males molt from season to season.
Peacock feathers are a symbol of good luck and well-being throughout Asia and most of the world. An interesting exception is in certain parts of Eastern Europe where the feather often decorated warriors of the invading Mongol hordes and thus were associated with a bad era.

Lamplight Feather offeres a wide range of peacock feathers for use in home decor and decoration, mask making and millinery applications, costume and theater productions, wedding decoration, and many other uses. The eyed peacock feathers and peacock sword feathers are available in both full length and short stalk. Bleached peacock eyes are a lovely off white to ivory shade. Dyed feathers can be either fully dyed (over bleached) or stem dyed (over natural). Lamplight also offers peacock body feather plumage and peacock feather trim. Check our catalog pages for these categories.
Thank you,
Tony Hill