The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large North American bird, instantly recognizable by its impressive and complex plumage. This extensive covering of feathers, which can number between 5,000 and 6,000 across the body, plays a significant role in insulation, flight, and display. The tail group stands out due to its unique structure and function, culminating in the iconic fan that defines the bird’s appearance.
The Official Count and Name
A turkey’s tail is generally composed of 18 long, stiff feathers, which are known anatomically as retrices. These feathers radiate out from a central point, forming the broad, rounded structure seen in flight or display. The number 18, with nine feathers on either side of the tail’s center line, is considered the standard count for wild turkeys.
Retrices are the large, specialized flight feathers of a bird’s tail, anchored deep within the skin and bone structure. These feathers are robust, designed to withstand the forces required for steering and braking during flight. While 18 is the typical number, individual wild turkeys may occasionally present slight deviations, sometimes exhibiting a count of 19 or 20 retrices due to minor natural variation.
The Role of Tail Feathers in Display
The primary function of the tail feathers, especially in males, is to create the spectacular fan display during a behavior known as strutting. This display is a visual spectacle, used to attract females for mating and to establish a dominance hierarchy among rival males. The bird achieves the fan shape by drawing on small muscles located at the base of the tail feathers, which allows them to be raised, spread, and held erect.
When a male turkey struts, the 18 retrices are spread to their maximum width, creating a nearly perfect semi-circle that greatly increases the bird’s apparent size. This rigid structure, which can measure 12 to 15 inches long, acts as a backdrop for the male’s iridescent body feathers, intensifying the visual signal to potential mates. The display is often accompanied by other physical changes, such as the puffing out of body feathers and the engorgement of the head and neck skin.
Structural Variations Across Turkeys
While the count of 18 retrices remains consistent, the physical characteristics of the tail feathers differ significantly between the sexes and across age groups. Male turkeys, or toms, possess tail feathers that are generally larger and exhibit a darker, more vibrant coloration with complex iridescence. In contrast, the female hen’s tail feathers are typically smaller, duller, and feature a more muted, brownish coloration, reflecting the general sexual dimorphism in plumage.
Age is a determining factor in the appearance of the fan’s edge. In a mature adult turkey, all the retrices are nearly the same length, resulting in a smooth, even, and rounded outline when the tail is fully fanned. Conversely, a young male turkey, known as a jake, has a tail fan that is noticeably uneven, with the central feathers being longer than the outer ones because they are still growing to full adult length.