Nature Andalusia Peacocks compete for a mate by Today, the Andalusia Farmhouse King of dramatically fanning their tails, Museum owns a pair of peafowl making loud cries, and putting on a fondly named Astor and Mrs. display for the peahens. By Shortly after two characters in Birds surviving in groups, peafowl cover O'Connor's “The Displaced Person.” large parcels of land needed for While the museum cannot host a A C L O S E R L O O K A T feeding. The peafowl's diet consists harem of birds such as Flannery P E A F O W L & F L A N N E R Y of seeds, nuts, small reptiles, and maintained, they O ' C O N N O R insects. proudly care for a coupled peacock and peahen in memorandum for one of Flannery’s greatest passions. Predators of this species include foxes, raccoons, and mongoose, who raid the peafowl ground nests. However, adult peafowl are not the targets; their eggs and chicks are. Species Historical Flannery's Flock Though the term "peacock" is Highlights Flannery O'Connor dedicated her commonly associated with both life to her two passions: her birds Throughout history, peafowl have sexes, the correct term for these and her writing. Even with, “a pen been symbolic motifs, spanning birds is peafowl. of pheasants and a pen of quail, a cultures and religions from Hindu flock of turkeys, seventeen geese, to Greek and Roman to Medieval Congo > a tribe of mallard ducks, three Christian Europe. Japanese silky bantams, two polish crusted ones, and several chickens,” Flannery believed her collection to be lacking.* She eventually ordered a few peafowl, until her flock grew to upwards of ^Indian 40 heads. ^Green Domesticated peafowl were found Peafowl belong to the same across Europe in the 14th century, scientific family as pheasants, but were mainly the property of Phasianidae. There are three main the royals and wealthy class, used species: the Indian Peafowl, the as decorative pieces to have Green Peafowl, and the Congo wandering opulent palace ground. Peafowl. The Indian Peafowl, with Today the peafowl can be found its token tail feathers and plumage, on many farms, zoos, and grounds is the most famous. across the world. *Flannery O’Connor, “Living with a Peacock.” Holiday Magazine. https://holidaymag.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/living-with-a-peacock-by-flannery-oconnor- september-1961/.