A white, or albino, peacock is a genetic variant of the Indian Blue peacock. The albino peacock is white rather than the typical array of bright and vibrant colors because they are missing certain pigments that colorful peacocks possess. Moreover the color of a peacock (or any bird for that matter) depends on the pigment and structure of the feathers that are equally important in determining the peacock's physical appearance. While melanins, carotenoids and porphyrines determine the bird's pigmentation, the structure of the peacocks feathers and the lamallae or thin plate layers of the peacock's feathers that behave like a prism and split the light of the peacock's colors.
Here are some more pictures of the albino peacock:
Sources: Treehuger
Does their lack of color create problems when mating? I thought one reason peacocks developed such colorful tails was to attract partners.
ReplyDeleteI have always found peacocks to be beautiful. Are female peacocks less attracted to albino peacocks due to their lack of color?
ReplyDeleteWow, the albino peacock looks very majestic. I have the same question as Katie and Frances. I wonder being albino affects the peacocks ability to attract mates and reproduce. I also wonder how common it is to find albino peacocks. I think I read somewhere that albino peacocks were bred for royal families because they were a sign of wealth and royalty. I wonder if this is true and if it has affected the current prevalence of albino peacocks. Whatever the case, they are very beautiful.
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