Karen Floyd, age 11, of Columbia, Tenn., for her question:

WHERE DOES THE PEACOCK BUILD ITS NEST?

Peacock is the name popularly applied to birds of two species: the common peacock and the Javanese peacock. The birds are members of the pheasant family.

Peacocks build their nests on the ground or in the low branches of trees. The hen usually lays 10 or more brownish eggs. Few eggs are laid, however, if the birds are living in cold climates. Peacocks are now common in most parts of the world. The birds living in the wild subsist on an omnivorous diet of worms, insects, small snakes and seeds.

The male peacock is noted for its resplendent train of long upper tail coverts, which it raises and spreads in strutting. the feathers are generally iridescent green and gold and are ornamented with eye like markings of rich color, known as peacock blue. The same blue also appears on the head, neck, breast and crest of the common peacock. In the male Javanese peacock the head, neck and underparts are green.

The male peacock spreads its feathers into a gorgeous fan as it parades slowly and majestically in front of the female. The female is smaller than the male, less vividly colored and has no train of long, colorful feathers.