Q. I started visiting the San Marcos City Cemetery when I was searching for uncrowded places to walk. I always see deer and squirrels. Recently, I happened on a peacock there. Its bright tail feathers were dragging so far behind its body. It made me wonder if peacocks have been changed by selective breeding? Or are they the product of a natural process?
A. The National Geographic’s online article on peacocks directly answers this question: “Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting with vibrant hues.”
Let’s turn to books about peacocks on our juvenile nonfiction shelves. According to author Ruth Berman, peacocks are a type of pheasant.
