The origin of Cameo Peafowl
Cameo was the first colour mutation discovered after the Whites and has been around several years. Originally called the Silver Dun, Cameos originated in Maine in the 1960s. They were first bred by Oscar Mulloy. Since then Sherman Cram, Dennis Cook, and Norman Waycott have helped perfect the mutation which is relatively new to the UK.
Cameo Peacock Colouration
At the beginning of the season, males are dark brown in colour, but by the time they begin to moult the sun has bleached them to a much lighter “coffee milk colour.” The neck remains a darker colour than the rest of the body throughout the year, and the train is darker in colour than the wings which exhibit brown and tan barring. The ocelli (eye spots) on the train have varying shades of brown, but no iridescence.
Cameo Peahen Colouration
Females are creamy brown and lighter than the males in colour. Their heads and neck are a darker rust, and the colour fades on the breast and back of the bird.
Cameo Peachick Colouration
Chicks look much like those of the Indian Blue, but are lighter in colour, and a creamy brown.
Will Cameo Peafowl breed true?
Yes, Cameo X Cameo will produce 100% Cameo chicks. However, like the Purple, Cameo colour is a sex-linked mutation. When a Cameo cock is bred to any other type of hen, their female offspring will be Cameo, while males will be split between Cameo and the hen’s colour. Cameo hens cannot produce pure Cameo offspring when bred to other coloured males, but have offspring split to cameo.