Have Peacocks become smaller?

[Jack Harrison]

My first encounter was in 1945 as a six-year-old.  Of course to a little lad, the butterfly look huge.

So fast-forward to say the early 1970s, by which stage I had a trifle more experience and could assess size. I knew, for example, that female Peacocks are larger than males.

However, at least up here in north Scotland, male Peacocks are now no bigger than Small Tortoiseshells.  My wife thought that they have also become darker, and I wouldn't disagree.

I offer no suggestion as to why they might have become smaller.  However, since around 1980, there has been a massive increase in the range and abundance of Peacocks.  There could be a connection between the expansion in range and abundance of Peacocks and the decrease in size, but I cannot see why that might be.

Jack

[Allan.W.]

Down here at the other end of the island (Kent) ,can,t say that i,ve noticed much change in the size of Peacocks locally .But I agree with your wife ie; I,ve noticed that they do appear to be darker.......a lot darker in some cases (at least to my eye !) heres one from Orlestone Forest a short while back.

Allan.W.