Turkeys have distinct physical characteristics, including unique fleshy growths on their heads and necks. These features, such as wattles, snoods, and caruncles, vary between sexes and provide visual cues about the individual bird. Understanding them offers insight into turkey anatomy and behavior.
Identifying Features in Female Turkeys
Female turkeys, known as hens, possess wattles, snoods, and caruncles, similar to their male counterparts. However, these features are generally less pronounced and smaller in hens. A hen’s wattle, the fleshy flap of skin under the chin, is typically lighter in color and less striking, often appearing dull reddish or grayish. The snood, a fleshy appendage extending from above the beak, is also present in females but remains short and less developed.
The caruncles, bumpy, fleshy protuberances on the head and neck, are likewise smaller and less noticeable in hens. These areas on a female turkey’s head are often blue-gray and may have small feathers covering them, unlike the largely bare heads of males.
Differences Between Male and Female Turkeys
The visual distinctions in head and neck features between male turkeys (toms) and female turkeys (hens) are significant. Male turkeys have a bare, colorful head and neck, displaying shades of red, blue, and white, with the intensity of these colors changing based on their mood or excitement. Their wattles are much larger and more prominent, glowing a bright scarlet during mating season due to increased blood flow.
The snood in males can grow considerably longer, sometimes up to five inches, becoming engorged and turning bright red when trying to attract a mate. Male turkeys also exhibit more pronounced caruncles, which are larger and can change color, sometimes turning a brilliant aquamarine blue on the face when aroused. These larger, more vibrant structures serve as a primary indicator of a turkey’s sex.
The Role of Head and Neck Features
The unique head and neck features of turkeys, including wattles, snoods, and caruncles, serve several biological functions. One role is in thermoregulation. Turkeys do not sweat, so the bare skin on their wattles and neck helps release excess heat, particularly on warm days. When temperatures rise, blood flow increases to these areas, allowing heat to dissipate from the body.
These fleshy structures are also important for sexual display and communication, especially in males. The bright colors and increased size of wattles and snoods signal health, dominance, and genetic quality to potential mates. A longer snood in males, for example, has been correlated with fewer internal parasites, making such males more appealing to hens. The color of these features can also act as a “mood ring,” changing to blue when a turkey is stressed or pale when ill, providing visual cues about the bird’s physiological state.