More than 4000 years ago, the peacock reached Europe via Mesopotamia. It is a fowl belonging to the family of pheasants. The rooster is characterized by a long and imposing tail. There are two species: the blue peacock (Pavo cristatus) and the green peacock (Pavo muticus). The female of the blue peacock is rather inconspicuously colored. With the green peacock there is less distinction between the two sexes. The roosters of both species have a long trail, consisting of about 150 colorful and strongly elongated tail-coverts, which show a peacock-eye at their ends. If the rooster ruffles its trail to conquer a female, the feathers can be seen most clearly. Originally kept in parks and gardens for their beauty, roasted peacock soon became a culinary status symbol! In addition, the feathers were highly in favor as a 'dry bouquet' or decoration of women's hats. Also in the Empire of China and in Manchuria, a peacock feather on the hat was a high distinction. Peacocks appear in ancient folk tales, in which they are associated with love and the gods.