The distinctive red head and neck of a turkey, often seen around holidays, are prominent fleshy growths. Many wonder about their purpose and what they are called. Far from being merely decorative, these features play several roles in the turkey’s biology and social interactions.
The Distinctive Red Features
Turkeys have several prominent red, fleshy growths on their head and neck. The most noticeable is the snood, a fleshy appendage hanging over the beak from the forehead. This structure varies in length, appearing short when relaxed or elongating significantly when excited. The wattle is another prominent feature, referring to the fleshy, often wrinkled skin hanging beneath the chin and along the throat. Unlike chickens, turkeys typically have a single, larger wattle.
Beyond the snood and wattle, turkeys also have caruncles. These are small, bulbous, fleshy protuberances found on the head, neck, and throat, appearing as bumpy, warty-like growths. Though the snood and wattle are technically types of caruncles, the term caruncle refers to these other textured areas of featherless skin. Both male and female turkeys possess these features, though they are much more pronounced in males.
Function and Characteristics
These distinctive red features serve several biological purposes, including thermoregulation. Turkeys do not sweat, so the bare skin on their head and neck—including the snood, wattle, and caruncles—allows for the release of excess heat. When hot, increased blood flow to these vascularized areas dissipates heat more efficiently.
The vibrant red coloration of these features results from increased blood flow to the skin, which lacks feathers. This engorgement with blood makes them appear brighter and often larger. The underlying skin also contains collagen, contributing to their fleshy texture. These areas are highly vascular, enabling rapid changes in color and size based on the turkey’s physiological state.
These features are also significant for social signaling and mate attraction. During courtship, male turkeys display their snoods, wattles, and caruncles, which become engorged with blood and turn bright red. A longer, brighter snood is associated with health and vitality, making a male more appealing to females. The size and color of these features can signal a male’s genetic quality and resistance to parasites.
Indicators of Health and Status
The appearance of a turkey’s snood, wattle, and caruncles can provide insights into its age, sex, health, and even emotional state. In males, these features are larger and more prominent than in females. For example, a male’s snood can grow up to 5 inches long, increasing in size with age and sexual maturity. Larger wattles and caruncles are correlated with higher testosterone levels in males.
The color and turgidity of these features fluctuate rapidly due to changes in blood flow, acting like a “mood ring” for the bird. A bright red head, snood, and wattle indicate excitement, arousal, or agitation, especially during courtship or confrontations with rivals. Conversely, when a turkey is relaxed, its head may display paler shades of white and light blue, indicating reduced blood flow.
Changes in color can also signal health issues. If a turkey is unwell, its wattle and snood may appear pale or even turn almost white. A duller or shrunken appearance can suggest illness or stress. These features also play a role in the turkey’s social hierarchy, as dominant males exhibit more vibrant and larger displays, which can influence interactions within the flock.