Peafowl | Sri Lanka Wildlife Guide
The decorative peacock may seem like a bird created out of a fairy tale, but it is actually native to the jungles of Sri Lanka and hopefully you will have the chance to see some while on safari in Yala National Park.
Only the males wear the famous colorful plumage, with the peahen looking drabber in brown and white feathers. As one might expect, the flamboyant tail feathers are used by the male to attract a mate, with the most impressive fan usually resulting in success with the hens.
As can probably be expected with such a dramatic bird, there is a lot of symbolism involving peacocks. Peacocks are widely believed to eat poisonous plants and even poisonous snakes like cobras. Within Buddhist belief, they represent wisdom and the ability to transform poison into beneficial nutrients. They are related to the bodhisattvas, god-like beings who come to earth to help humans achieve enlightenment. Like the peacock, they are able to transform the “poisons” of ignorance, desire and hatred into fuel for spiritual growth.
OTHER BIRDS
Sri Lanka is an excellent destination for birding with a variety of habitats from wetlands, rainforests, highland cloud forests, and dry-zone scrub jungles. Approximately 450 species of birds have been recorded here. There are 33 endemic species found only in Sri Lanka and a further 19 sub-continental endemics predominantly concentrated in the rainforests and highlands within the wet zone. On this itinerary we will be covering a wide array of birding hot spots.
