Unveiling Unseen Courtship of India’s National Bird

Wildlife photographer Vinod Goel has spent years documenting the uncommon behaviors of India’s local birds, with a special focus on the majestic peacock. Through his lens, he reveals rare moments, including the elusive peacock mating ritual, roosting habits, and the tender bond between peahens and their chicks.

Vinod Goel, born and brought up in Palwal (Haryana), a retired Indian Revenue Service officer, has become a renowned wildlife photographer. His journey from a childhood passion for photography to capturing the beauty of peafowls and other local birds is inspiring. He has spent years observing uncommon behaviors in birds, particularly focusing on India’s national bird, the peacock.

Documenting Peacocks  in their Glory

Vinod Goel’s journey into wildlife photography began long before he owned his first camera. Growing up in the small town of Palwal, Haryana, he harbored an intense desire to capture the world around him through a lens. Although his family couldn’t afford a camera during his childhood, this passion stayed with him. His education at Sainik School Balachadi in Gujarat, which was surrounded by nature’s beauty, further sparked his interest. Observing the daily changes along the seashore left a lasting impression on young Vinod.

However, it wasn’t until 1983, while serving in the Indian Revenue Service, that Vinod finally bought his first camera from Burma Bazaar in Chennai. His early forays into photography were focused on capturing the candid moments of life around him — people, landscapes, and nature. While balancing his career and family, photography remained a constant passion.

It was in 2002, upon being posted as Commissioner in Raipur, that his passion for wildlife photography truly took root. Free from family responsibilities, as his wife Sangeeta stayed in Delhi to care for their children, Vinod found himself with time to explore the wilderness. His first visit to Kanha National Park in 2004 ignited his fascination with wildlife, a passion that led him to explore more than 50 national parks across India over the next 15 years. Vinod’s focus, however, was not on the typical subjects of wildlife photography like tigers and elephants, but rather the birds — particularly peacocks.

Quest to Capture

Peacocks, with their vibrant plumage and graceful dance, have fascinated cultures around the world for centuries. The blue peacock, native to India, has long been admired for its iridescent tail feathers adorned with eye-like patterns known as ocelli. The male, known as the peacock, is the more colorful counterpart to the muted peahen. Together, they are called peafowl. The peacock holds special significance in India and was declared the national bird in 1963, representing beauty, pride, and grace.

Vinod’s interest in peacocks, however, stemmed from his desire to understand their behavior beyond their beauty. He sought to observe and document the mating rituals of peafowls, a process surrounded by myths. For generations, it was widely believed that peacocks did not mate, with some legends claiming that peahens conceived by drinking the tears of a peacock. Vinod wanted to challenge this myth.

The Elusive Mating Dance

Over the years, Vinod focused his attention on capturing the peacocks’ elusive mating ritual. While many admired the peacock’s stunning feathers and majestic presence, Vinod wanted to go deeper. He spent countless hours in the parks around Delhi, including Sunder Nursery and Aravali, patiently observing their courtship behaviors. 

It wasn’t until June 23, 2016, after three years of observation, that Vinod finally captured his first photograph of a mating peafowl. The moment lasted only 6 to 13 seconds, an incredibly brief time that explained why it had remained largely undocumented by wildlife photographers. His persistence paid off again on August 8, 2016, when he managed to capture a clearer shot. This rare photograph not only debunked the long-held myth but also showcased the intricate and fascinating world of the peafowl.

Vinod’s photographs have since been featured in several exhibitions and publications, bringing the story of the peacock to a wider audience. In his work, he emphasizes that while many photographers focus on large, exotic animals, there is immense beauty in observing the behavior of common birds like the peacock. His philosophy of documenting “uncommon behavior of common birds” has led him to capture rare moments of peafowls mating, courtship rituals, and family life, including the tender care of peahens with their chicks.

A Lifetime Dedicated to Wildlife

Since his retirement in 2015, Vinod has fully immersed himself in wildlife photography. His work has been featured in exhibitions and publications both in India and abroad, spreading awareness about the importance of preserving the country’s rich wildlife heritage. Through his lens, he captures not just the beauty of animals but their everyday behaviors, urging people to look closer at the world around them.

The peacock, though often admired for its beauty, remains a misunderstood bird in many ways. Vinod Goel’s dedication to studying and photographing peafowls offers a fresh perspective, revealing the bird’s rich and fascinating life beyond its colorful feathers. His work serves as a reminder that nature’s wonders can be found not only in the far reaches of jungles but also in the parks and neighborhoods that surround us. Through his photographs, Vinod continues to inspire others to appreciate and protect the natural world.

The Takeaway

Vinod Goel’s dedication to observing peacocks didn’t stop at photographing their mating rituals. Over the years, he discovered that there was much more to these magnificent birds than their eye-catching feathers and iconic courtship dance. The peacock, with its shimmering tail and dramatic displays, is often seen as a symbol of pride and beauty. But beyond these obvious traits, Vinod uncovered subtle, intriguing behaviors that most people tend to overlook.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the peacock’s life that Vinod documented was their roosting behavior. While commonly associated with their majestic ground displays, peacocks actually roost in trees in forested areas. Vinod observed that in urban environments, particularly in cities like Delhi, peacocks adapt by nesting on the ground or even on building terraces when necessary. At the India International Centre, next to Lodi Gardens in Delhi, he was able to capture peacocks roosting on the first-floor terraces. In Gurugram, he observed similar behavior, where space constraints forced these birds to find unique nesting spots.

Vinod’s persistence in studying peacocks also revealed another rare moment: peahens caring for their chicks. Through his lens, Vinod captured the tender moments between mother and offspring, a scene not often documented in the wild. The peahen’s nurturing instinct, juxtaposed with the grandeur of the male’s vibrant displays, highlighted the complex dynamics of these birds.

In addition to his focus on peacocks, Vinod also extensively studied other resident birds like the Indian Grey Hornbill, Asian Koel, and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. His dedication to understanding the local birdlife has helped shine a light on the richness of India’s avian biodiversity, often hidden in plain sight.