Peacock feathers
© sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Image
Regal radiance. Bright and colorful peacock feathers
Peacock feathers, multicolored and radiant, are instantly recognizable. Their signature 'eyespots' flash in the light when a male displays its tail plumage for a nearby female, known as a 'peahen.'
The shimmering, iridescent effect is due to the tiny, crystal-like structures of the peacock’s feathers. As the feathers shift, so does the color. This brilliant show is all done to attract a mate. When mating season is over, males lose their feathers, making it easy for us to collect them for display, art, or simply a reminder of nature's beauty.
Related Images
A carving of artist W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp in the Pura Meduwe Karang temple in Bali, Indonesia
Brightly colored powder for sale during Holi
Street art from the Pasadena Chalk Festival 2013, California
A Diego Rivera painting to celebrate Labor Day
Artist Laura Buckley with her mixed-media sculpture 'Fata Morgana,' Saatchi Gallery, London
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The Brandenburg Gate seen through a heart-shaped replica of a remnant of the Berlin Wall
Mars Express image of the icy cap at Mars’ south pole
Bing Today Images
Demoiselle cranes, India
Mar 30, 2026
Belted Galloway cows in Scotland
Mar 30, 2022
The Vestibule at Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia
Mar 30, 2018
