The Peacock’s Burden

A hen asked a peacock why he carried such an absurd tail. “It slows you down. It attracts predators. It serves no practical purpose.”

The peacock spread his feathers. “That is precisely the point. Any bird can claim to be strong and healthy. Only a truly strong bird can survive despite carrying this burden. My tail is proof that I can afford it.”

The hen considered this. The signal was credible because it was costly. A weak bird carrying such a tail would die. The tail didn’t just display fitness — it proved it, by being a handicap only the fit could bear.