Indian Peafowl (specifically a tail covert feather from a male, commonly called a Peacock)

This is a lateral ornamental feather from a male peacock's train. Unlike the famous 'eye' feathers, these 'sword' feathers form the fringe of the display. The Indian Peafowl is a large, colorful pheasant known for the male's spectacular iridescent train and loud, 'pavo' calls.

Pale silvery-white to cream vane with a starkly contrasting dark brown to black rachis. No 'eye' spot (ocellus), which is typical for the outer sword-style coverts.

Open, decomposed pennaceous structure; barbs are widely spaced and lack interlocking hooks (barbicels), resulting in a hair-like, filamentous appearance.

Silky and delicate barbs with a stiff, springy, and slightly glossy rachis. The vane feels soft and hair-like rather than flat.

White/cream filamentous barbs combined with a dark black/brown curved rachis and the absence of an ocellus (eye).

Deciduous forests, parklands, and agricultural fringes; prefers areas with dense undergrowth for nesting and tall trees for roosting.

Native to the Indian Subcontinent, but widely introduced and established globally in zoos, estates, and feral populations.

Terrestrial omnivore; helps control insect populations and disperses seeds, while also serving as prey for large felids in its native range.

Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), which has more green-gold tones in the sword feathers, or domestic white peacock variants (which lack the dark rachis).

A peacock's train can contain over 200 feathers, but they are technically coverts, not true tail feathers. They molt these annually after the breeding season.

Good; the barbs are largely intact with minor clumping, likely a naturally molted specimen from a mature male.