Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
If one had to compile a list of the most famous and beautiful birds on the planet, the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), commonly known to most people simply as the peacock, would most likely be included on it. Here we shall examine the 2008 Safari Ltd. toy.
Not surprisingly, this toy represents an adult male. Also not surprisingly, it’s sculpted in a display pose with its magnificent train of tail feathers raised and fanned out wide. And it is noticeably smaller than many other peacock toys such as the Papo one reviewed here. Its fan measures about 10.5 cm wide and just over 7 cm tall. Indeed, if the fan were folded down, it would be among Safari’s smallest birds.
Unlike many other peacock figures, this one is not mounted on a base. Instead, it balances on its feet, wingtips, and the tips of its bottom fan feathers, and it does so quite well.
The peacock’s body is mostly a bright metallic blue, albeit not quite the right shade. A splash of metallic gold is on its back. The eyes and crest are black, the beak and markings surrounding the eyes are white, and the feet are dark grey. From the rear, the wings are reddish brown, the smaller tail feathers are white and dirty brown, and the fan feathers are dark grey.
Turning back to the front, the fan feathers are metallic green with gold and cyan eyespots. It is an attractive paint job and it is immediately recognisable as a peacock’s colouration, but for certain it does not come close to the real animal. It should also be noted that the fan is too small in proportion to the body, but that’s a problem plaguing Papo’s peacock as well.
The plumage on the body, the flight feathers on the wings (peacocks are indeed capable of flying for short distances just like turkeys and bustards), and the fan feathers are nicely rendered, with a loose, shaggy appearance in the case of the latter. But due to this peacock’s small size, it’s not as impressive as other toys. Instead of a long, curved beak, we get a blunt nub. And the distinctive and distinguished crest is but a solid wedge.
Overall then, the Safari peacock is a nice toy, but not what I’d call a great one. It is still in production at this time and widely available.
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