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Collective Nouns · Peafowl · Animal Facts

What Is a Group of Peacocks Called?

All Collective Nouns, Explained

From “muster” to “ostentation,” this guide explores the collective nouns for peacocks and the difference between peacocks, peahens, and peafowl.

📖 8 min read 🦚 PEAFOWL SERIES 🔎 Updated August 2026

What Is a Group of Peacocks Called?

🦚 QUICK ANSWER

A group of peacocks is called a muster of peacocks (also an ostentation).

A group of peacocks is most commonly called “a muster of peacocks,” though “an ostentation of peacocks” is an equally beloved and fitting alternative. Technically, “peacock” refers only to the male of the species, so a mixed group is more accurately called a muster of peafowl.

Primary noun: muster of peacocks
Neutral wording: group of peafowl
Animal type: large ground-dwelling bird
Scientific genus: Pavo

Peacocks are famous around the world for their extravagant, iridescent tail feathers, but the name itself is often used loosely. Only males are technically peacocks, while females are peahens, and together the species is known as peafowl.

When several peafowl gather, the collection is known as a muster of peacocks, or sometimes an ostentation, a fittingly theatrical term for such a visually striking bird.

Collective Nouns for Peacocks

Several expressions can describe multiple peacocks, and unusually, more than one has stuck around in common use.

Primary Collective Noun

Muster of Peacocks
The most traditional and widely recognized collective noun for peafowl.


Example:
A muster of peacocks strutted across the palace lawn.

Behavior-Based Collective Noun

Ostentation of Peacocks
A wonderfully fitting term referencing the peacock’s elaborate, showy tail display.


Example:
An ostentation of peacocks fanned their feathers for the visiting crowd.

Historical Collective Noun

Pride of Peacocks
An older, less common alternative occasionally cited on historical word lists.


Example:
A pride of peacocks roamed the estate gardens.

Neutral Descriptive Noun

Group of Peafowl
The technically accurate phrase, since “peacock” refers only to males.


Example:
A group of peafowl wandered near the temple grounds.

Animal Facts

A deep dive into peacock biology and behavior.

What’s the difference between a peacock and a peahen?

Only males are called peacocks and grow the famous colorful train. Females, called peahens, have more subdued brown and grey plumage.

Where do peacocks live?

Peafowl are native to South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia, though they’ve been introduced to parks and estates worldwide.

How many eggs do peahens lay?

A peahen typically lays a clutch of 4–8 eggs, which incubate for about 28 days before hatching.

Can peacocks actually fly?

Yes, despite popular belief, peacocks can fly, usually short distances to roost safely in trees at night, away from ground predators.

How long do peacocks live?

Peafowl typically live 20 years or more in protected environments like parks and sanctuaries.

Why do peacocks display their feathers?

Males fan their elaborate train primarily during courtship displays to attract peahens, and occasionally to assert dominance over rival males.

A Display of Color

Few birds put on a show quite like the peacock. A muster of peacocks gathered together can turn any garden or courtyard into a dazzling display of iridescent blues, greens, and golds.

The shimmering effect isn’t from pigment at all, it comes from microscopic feather structures that bend light, a phenomenon called structural coloration, the same optical trick behind soap bubbles and butterfly wings.

Famous Peacocks

India’s National Bird

The Indian peafowl holds a uniquely famous status as the official national bird of India, a designation made in 1963. Deeply woven into Indian art, mythology, and culture for thousands of years, the peacock remains one of the most recognized and celebrated birds in the world.

What Is a Group of Baby Peacocks Called?

Baby peafowl are called peachicks.

There isn’t a distinct collective noun for a group of peachicks specifically. Peachicks hatch with dull, camouflaged plumage and only develop their species’ characteristic coloring, and in males, the iconic train, as they mature over several years.

The Muster..

Why the Collective Noun Is Called a Muster

“Muster” traditionally refers to a formal gathering or assembly, fitting for a bird whose group display looks almost ceremonial. The term likely reflects how strikingly organized and visually commanding a group of peafowl appears together.

“Ostentation” leans even further into the bird’s reputation for showiness, referencing the peacock’s famously eye-catching displays.

How Big Is a Peacock Muster

Wild peafowl typically gather in small groups of a few individuals, though in parks, temples, and estates with reliable food, much larger flocks can form.

Males are often more solitary or loosely grouped outside of the breeding season, when competition for mates intensifies.

Example Sentences

• A muster of peacocks wandered freely through the palace courtyard.
• Visitors gathered to watch an ostentation of peacocks display their feathers.
• A group of peafowl roosted in the trees at dusk.
• The temple grounds are home to a resident muster of peafowl.

Frequently Asked Questions about Peacocks

Is “peacock” the correct term for the whole species?

Not technically. “Peacock” refers only to males. The species as a whole, including females and young, is correctly called peafowl.

How many feathers does a peacock’s train have?

A mature peacock’s train can contain over 150 elongated feathers, each often featuring the bird’s signature eye-shaped pattern.

Are peacocks loud?

Yes. Peacocks are known for their loud, distinctive calls, which can carry over long distances, especially during breeding season.

Do peacocks shed their feathers?

Yes. Peacocks molt their train annually after breeding season and regrow an even more elaborate display the following year.

Are peacocks aggressive?

Peacocks are generally not aggressive toward people, though males can become territorial and defensive during breeding season.

Are peacocks endangered?

The Indian peafowl is not endangered and remains widespread, but the green peafowl, a related species from Southeast Asia, is classified as endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

Quiz Time! What do you remember about peacocks?

Quick Quiz: What is the most traditional collective noun for peacocks?

  • Muster of peacocks
  • Flock of peacocks
  • Herd of peacocks
  • Colony of peacocks

Quick Quiz: What is a female peafowl called?

  • Peahen
  • Peacock
  • Peachick
  • Pea-doe

Quick Quiz: Can peacocks fly?

  • Yes, short distances
  • No, never
  • Only as chicks
  • Only females can

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