Spalding
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Spaldings combine the larger, more lithe and streamlined body structure of the green with the hardiness and somewhat calmer temperament of the blue. Spaldings tend to take after the green in voice and the blues in coloration. They still tend to be flightier and more susceptible to cold than the blue, but much less so than the green. |
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Type of mutation: Spaldings are a hybrid of the India Blue and Java Green peafowl. |
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Peacock Coloration: Males are thinner than typical blues, as well as larger. Coloration varies, but the crest is shorter and tighter than the green's. While they may still be blue, spalding males shine more bluish-green in direct sunlight. There is a patch of yellow in the facial skin. |
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Peahen Coloration: Coloration varies, but shows more characteristics of the green than the blue. The neck and chest show more solid bluish-green than the India Blue, and the bird usually exhibits a small yellow facial patch. |
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Peachick Coloration: Spalding chicks are slightly darker brown than India Blue chicks, although the difference varies depending on the amount of green blood in the bird. |
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Origin: The first spalding was the offspring of a green peacock and a blackshoulder hen. These birds were named after the late Mrs. Spalding of California, who helped develop the hybrid. Spalding can be found in many of the color and pattern variations of the India Blue, such as pied, purple, and cameo, however these birds are rarer and more expensive than their India Blue cousins. |
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Do they breed true?: A spalding crossed to a spalding will result in all spalding offspring. But this is not considered to be "breeding true" because the offspring will have varying degrees of blue and green blood that will result in phenotypic differences. |
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Three week old Spalding chick, photo courtesy of Val.
Spalding hen, photo courtesy of me.
Mature Spalding male, photo courtesy of Josh Hoffman.
Spalding male displaying, photo courtesy of Val.
