Every branch carries a series of brightly colored spots. The actual color depends on the exact position of the spot on the branch and on the angle of the incident light. Detail of a peacock feather. The iridescent plumage of the peacock originates in the fine side branches of the feathers.
The most obvious difference between male and female Indian peafowl is their coloration. Males are usually an iridescent shade of bright blue. ... Females, on the other hand, have much more subdued plumage. Their feathers tend to be either brown, gray or cream in color.
The peacock "tail," known as a "train," consists not of tail quill feathers, but highly elongated upper tail coverts. ... The Indian peahen has a mixture of dull grey, brown, and green in her plumage.