Birding/peacock mating

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Expert: - 7/25/2005


Question
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Followup To
Question -
i am dr anil from india.i would like to know about peacock mating--in india it is believed that peacock do not mate bodily with peahens--the peahen drinks the tears of peacock and conception takes place---is this true?  


Answer -
No, it is not true. Peacocks mate just like all other birds - bodily contact with sex organs. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com



Are you 100% sure---i have no reason to doubt you as an expert---but can you quote me some books or some websites which can give me this information in detail and if possible some pictures of the same.
This is very important to me as i am having some debate on this and some spiritual students are asking proof of the same.

thanks---dr anil

Answer
I am absolutely 100% sure. The idea that a peahen mates by drinking the male's tears is just ridiculous. Any text in ornithology will tell you that physical bodily contact between the birds' cloacas is when sperm is passed from male to female.
For a book on peacocks see http://www.poultry-books.co.uk/peacock.html

I can't believe you are even spending time on such a silly debate.

Dr. Lederer

Birding

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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