Nov 18, 2022 · Wild Turkeys are spectacular birds, coming in an array of colors and sporting a variety of eye-popping appendages. The wattle —the colorful flap of bare skin hanging from a turkey’s head—may be the most familiar feature to folks.

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Jan 30, 2024 · No one knows exactly why turkeys have beards, but it is a general belief that the beard on a male turkey is used to show its dominance. Picking the right mate is especially important in the wild. Passing on strong genetic traits is important for the survival of the species.

Mar 25, 2019 · It’s no secret that most wild turkey males have “beards.” These are made up of long hairlike feathers which grow from its chest. But some hens have beards, too.

Aug 25, 2024 · A Wild Turkey’s “beard” is the tuft that looks a bit like a miniature horsetail dangling from its breast. Year-old males have beards up to about five inches long, while toms three or more years old can have beards that are 10 inches or longer.

Feb 1, 2018 · Wild Turkey with multiple beards. Photo by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) has an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 feathers, and despite the stunning metallic iridescence tom’s cast strutting in the early spring sunlight, it is a cluster of specialized feathers that attracts the sportsman.

Aug 17, 2021 · The function of the wild turkey beard is not well understood but it is suspected to play a role in mate selection by the female. A longer beard signifies an older healthier male and thus a superior mate. Surprisingly, the beard is considered a modified type of feather.

With his brilliantly colored plumage fanned out in display, this tom (male) Wild Turkey is a handsome sight to behold. He has a bright red head, long spurs, and… a beard. This “beard” is a small cluster of bristles that sprouts from the bird’s chest plumage.

May 2, 2023 · Wild turkey beards are composed of modified feathers often called filaments. Beards emerge from a papilla or sheath at the base of the neck within the midline between two feather tracts on the sides of the neck where it merges with the upper breast.