The wild turkey, a large North American bird, has distinctive fleshy growths on its head and neck. These features contribute to its recognizable appearance and reveal aspects of the bird’s biology.
Distinctive Features: Wattle, Snood, and Caruncles
The most visible fleshy appendages on a turkey’s head and neck are the wattle, snood, and caruncles. The wattle is a fleshy growth hanging from the throat or chin. Both male and female turkeys have wattles, but they are more prominent in males, often appearing larger and more vibrant.
The snood is a fleshy, ribbon-like appendage projecting from the forehead and dangling over the beak. While present in both sexes, the snood is much longer and more pronounced in male turkeys.
Caruncles are small, bumpy, fleshy growths distributed across the head and neck. These nodular masses are also more noticeable and abundant in males.
The Biology of Redness
The striking red coloration of a turkey’s wattle, snood, and caruncles comes from a rich supply of blood vessels close to the skin surface. The absence of feathers on the head and neck makes this vascularization visible, creating the intense red hue.
These unfeathered areas also aid the turkey’s thermoregulation. Turkeys do not sweat, so the exposed skin allows excess heat to dissipate. Blood flow to these areas can increase to facilitate cooling.
Significance of Color and Size
The color and size of a turkey’s fleshy head and neck structures are not static; they change based on the bird’s physiological state and serve as important signals. During mating season, especially for males, these features become engorged with blood, turning a brighter, more intense scarlet. This vibrant display is part of sexual selection, attracting hens by signaling the male’s health, dominance, and genetic fitness. Studies suggest that males with longer snoods are often preferred by hens and tend to be healthier.
Beyond courtship, the appearance of these features can also indicate a turkey’s overall well-being. A pale, dull, or shriveled wattle and snood can suggest illness, stress, or anemia. Conversely, when a turkey is excited or agitated, the caruncles and other fleshy parts can become flushed and more intensely colored. This dynamic coloration provides visual cues about the bird’s current condition and emotional state.