The “beard,” a tuft of bristle-like filaments protruding from a wild turkey’s chest, is a distinctive feature. While typically associated with male turkeys (toms or gobblers), some female turkeys (hens) can also grow beards, though this is rare.
What is a Turkey Beard?
A turkey beard is a cluster of stiff, hair-like structures, scientifically called mesofiloplumes. These modified feathers are not true hairs and grow continuously from a papilla on the bird’s upper breast. Unlike other feathers, beards are not molted annually. Their dark brown or black coloration comes from melanin, which also strengthens the filaments. While its exact function is not definitively proven, the beard is widely believed to play a role in mate selection, potentially indicating dominance and health in male turkeys.
Do Female Turkeys Grow Beards?
While male turkeys almost always have a beard, beard growth in hens is rare, with estimates suggesting 5 to 10 percent of hens in some populations may possess one. Some studies indicate this figure might be closer to 14 percent for adult eastern wild turkey hens. Hens’ beards are typically shorter, thinner, and less dense than those on toms, sometimes appearing kinked. The reasons for beard growth in hens are not fully understood, but factors include genetics or hormonal influences. Despite having a beard, these hens reproduce successfully, laying eggs and raising broods.
Other Ways to Identify Male and Female Turkeys
Since beards are not exclusive to male turkeys, other characteristics differentiate toms and hens.
Size and Plumage
Male turkeys are larger, typically weighing 16 to 24 pounds, while hens are smaller, usually 8 to 12 pounds. Plumage also varies; toms display vibrant, iridescent feathers with metallic hues of bronze, green, or copper, and have black-tipped breast feathers. Hens have duller, brown or gray plumage for camouflage, with brown or buff-tipped breast feathers.
Head Features and Spurs
Head coloration provides another distinction. Male turkeys have bare heads and necks that change color (red, blue, white), intensifying during excitement or mating displays. They also feature fleshy growths like caruncles, a snood (a fleshy appendage above the beak), and a wattle (a flap of skin under the chin). Hens have smaller, more feathered, blue-gray heads with less pronounced snoods and wattles. Toms usually have sharp spurs on their legs for fighting, while hens rarely have them.
Vocalizations and Behavior
Vocalizations also differ; males are known for their distinctive gobble, while hens produce softer calls like clucks, yelps, and purrs. Male turkeys also exhibit strutting behavior, fanning tails and puffing feathers to attract mates, a display not seen in hens.