A wild turkey is instantly recognizable for many reasons. These birds are big - sometimes tipping the scales at more than 20 pounds - but what most often catches our eyes is the bright red skin that hangs from the birds' necks. This fleshy, bumpy skin has a name: the wattle.
It's different from the long piece of flesh that grows down from the bird's forehead, which is called a "snood. Anatomical structures on the head and throat of a domestic turkey. 1.
Caruncles, 2. Snood, 3. Wattle (dewlap), 4.
Major caruncle, 5. Beard A caruncle is defined as 'a small, fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal's anatomy'. [1] Within this definition, caruncles in birds include wattles (or dewlaps), combs, snoods, and earlobes.
The term caruncle is derived from Latin caruncula. Wild Turkey Feather Colors Wild turkeys sport gorgeous, natural camouflage made up of rich earth tones. Their feathers help them blend into the forests and fields where they live.
Here are the main colors found on wild turkeys: Dark brown is the predominant body color on wild turkeys. Their wings, back, chest and tail feathers are various shades of chocolate brown to black. Between dramatic color changes and changing snood length, a male turkey wears his emotions on his head.
If you're reading this article, you've likely witnessed the magic of a tom's chameleon-like head, changing colors from pale red to an intense bright red, and to a starch white and blue combination. What is the red thing on a turkeys nose? Snoods This fleshy, bumpy skin has a name: the wattle. It's different from the long piece of flesh that grows down from the bird's forehead, which is called a "snood," according to PBS.
Snoods can be short, sticking up like a horn, or long, extending past the nose. Wild Turkey Anatomy Here is a breakdown of some of the wild turkey's distinct anatomical features and their function, from snood to spur, if you will. Nature's Mood Ring: What a Turkey's Head Can Tell You About How They Are Feeling By: Dean Taylor The wild turkey is a fascinating bird, with its raptor-like feet, coarse and dangling chest beard, and a tendency to challenge everything from lightning to car alarms with its thundering gobble.
Subtle color differences help distinguish males from females when turkey watching. What Causes the Color Variations in Turkeys? The different combinations of genes that a turkey can have result in the diverse colors we see. The most common turkey colors are white, brown, and black.
What Causes the Color Changes? The color changes on a turkey's head result from physiological mechanisms involving its thin skin and an extensive network of capillaries. The bird can rapidly control the blood flow to these capillaries, altering the color. For instance, when a turkey becomes excited, agitated, or dominant, blood rushes to the head, causing it to swell and turn a vibrant red.
With their plump bodies and bald heads, wild turkeys are easily recognizable birds. But look past those standard features, and you'll discover wild turkeys actually display a diverse palette of colors in their plumage. Ranging from iridescent greens to chestnut browns, the feathers of wild turkeys feature intricate patterns and vivid hues that can surprise even seasoned bird watchers.
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