Can a Turkey have more than one beard?
“Multiple beards on a bird is not a common occurrence, with estimates suggesting that less than 10% of toms sport more than one beard,” said Dr. Mike Chamberlain, our favorite wild turkey researcher, from the University of Georgia. Beards grow from a papilla—an oval-shaped, raised part of the skin on a turkey’s breast.
Why do turkeys have beards?
What is the purpose of a turkey’s beard? The turkey’s beard is a sign of virility and maturity. Often times the male turkey uses it to attract females during the mating season. The hens seem to be more attracted to a tom with a full and long beard. The male turkey’s beard often becomes erect when it is aroused.
Do all male turkeys have beards?
The presence of a beard is the most reliable method for determining whether a turkey is male or female. All males have beards, while females do not. A turkey’s beard is made up of long, thin feathers that hang down from the lower part of the chest. The beard is typically the same color as their tail.
What is the average length of a turkey beard?
Turkey Beards. As a general rule, jakes will have short beards (about 2 to 3 inches in length), while the tom turkey beard can be up to 10 inches or more (they don’t call them longbeards for nothing). Sometimes toms even get multiple beards, which can be another good sign of maturity.
Why do turkey hens have beards?
Turkey Beards Not hair, like mammal beards, the gobbler's beard is made of modified feathers or tufts of filaments. It's not clear Turkey beards' purpose is not clear, but they may help differentiate birds or may be a sign of virility to attract females. Beards and spurs on turkeys differentiate males from females.
What is a turkey beard called?
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.
What is a turkey beard made of?
feathersThey are feather-like structures called mesofiloplumes. Their structural proteins are similar to those of feathers, but they lack a follicle and other characteristics of most feathers. Unlike feathers, turkey beards grow continuously.
How rare is a hen turkey with a beard?
The turkey "beard" is not a reliable indicator of sex. Up to 10 percent of hens will have thin 6- to 8-inch beards.
How rare is a 4 bearded turkey?
“Multiple beards on a bird is not a common occurrence, with estimates suggesting that less than 10% of toms sport more than one beard,” said Dr. Mike Chamberlain, our favorite wild turkey researcher, from the University of Georgia. Beards grow from a papilla—an oval-shaped, raised part of the skin on a turkey's breast.
How long does a turkey beard have to be to shoot?
As a general rule, jakes will have short beards (about 2 to 3 inches in length), while the tom turkey beard can be up to 10 inches or more (they don't call them longbeards for nothing).
How can you tell how old a turkey is by their beard?
You can hold a beard up to a light or window to see amber tips. If the tips are more than about 70 percent amber colored, the bird is 2. If there's little or no amber coloration, the bird is likely 3 or older. Other than that, a beard doesn't tell you much about the age of a gobbler.
Can female turkeys have beards?
Turkey Hens Their wattles, snoods, caruncles and spurs are small. Hens make vocalizations such as yelps, clucks and cuts. Approximately 10 percent of hens possess a “beard,” or elongated chest feathers.
Can a turkey have more than one beard?
Typical gobblers have only one beard that continues to grow throughout their life. About two percent of gobblers have multiple beards.
Can you shoot a bearded hen turkey?
In “bearded bird” spring turkey states, they're legal. Often this lawbook rule is established in the event a hunter sees a bearded turkey, and pulls the trigger. They breed and lay eggs just like the hens without beards. Whether you shoot one is still your ethical turkey hunting choice in the end.
Can a bearded hen gobble?
Yes, hens can gobble just like a jake or tom and they can also strut, and contrary to some myths, those gobbling, strutting hens are not hermaphrodites or genetic freaks.
Can a bearded hen breed?
Bearded hens also breed, lay eggs and raise broods.
What are the parts of a turkey called?
Here's a rundown:Spurs. Both sexes have spurs, although on females, the keratinized appendages are no more than small buttons protruding from the back of the leg a few inches above the foot. ... Fan. A turkey's fan is a prominent feature you'll see when a tom struts. ... Beard. ... Snood. ... Caruncles. ... Dewlap. ... Wing Feathers. ... Eyes and Ears.
What is the gobbler on a turkey called?
What Is a Turkey's Snood? A snood is a fleshy protuberance above a male turkey's bill that can, in some cases, hang down and cover the bill. It can vary dramatically in size, shape, and color. Snoods function in sexual selection: Female turkeys choose who to mate with based on a variety of factors including snood size.
Does a female turkey have a beard?
Turkey Beards Male turkeys, called gobblers – and some female turkeys, called hens – have beards. Only about 10 to 20 percent of hens grow beards, and it's likely a genetic mutation, according to Sciencing.com.
What is the thing hanging from a turkey chest?
The snood is the fleshy flap of skin that hangs off a turkey's beak. Scientists haven't found any specific function for the snood, but it does fill up with blood and hangs over the beak when male turkeys are strutting and showing off looking for mate.
What is the tuft of hair on a turkey?
The tuft of hair on a turkey is called a beard/ tassel. It is not hair actually but modified feathers hanging down from its chest.
What is the red thing hanging on a turkey?
That red hanging thing on a turkey is called a wattle. It is a bright red fleshy skin that hangs from the turkey’s neck. It is different from a snood.
Conclusion
Turkeys have a set of bristles or hair hanging from their chest which is called beard.
Snood
This is the fleshy appendage that extends over the beak. While it looks like a pint-sized version of an elephant’s trunk, the purpose of the snood is not to grab food, it’s to grab the attention of a mate.
Wattles
In the most general sense, wattles refer to fleshy appendages hanging from the neck or chin of many types of animals. Pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys are all capable of growing wattles. With pigs and goats, the wattle is covered in hair and has no known biological function.
Caruncles
The warty protuberances on the head of a turkey are called caruncles. Technically, wattles and snoods are types of caruncles, but on turkeys the term usually refers to all the flesh that is not a wattle or a snood. If you look closely at the caruncles around the skull, you’ll see a pea-sized orifice behind each eye, which are the turkey’s ears.
Leg Spurs
If the facial features aren’t enough for you to tell a hen from a tom, look at the legs. They’re not pretty to look at either in either sex (very scaly and reptilian), but male turkeys have a special claw, known as a spur, part way down the back of the leg, just a couple inches above the feet.
Breast Beards
Now for the feathered body parts. As male turkeys mature, they developed a clump of slender, fibrous feathers in the center of their breast, which is referred to as a beard or a tassel. A turkey’s beard resembles a horse’s tail, except it’s shorter and on the front of the body.
Feathers and Their Functions
Feathers on male and female turkeys are essentially the same, at least when it comes to practical matters. They have short, downy feathers on their breasts and back for warmth.
Weight Watchers
There are five subspecies of turkeys in the United States. The five subspecies are Merriam’s, Rio Grande, Eastern, Gould’s and Osceola. If you hunt Eastern turkeys, you have a distinct advantage over the other subspecies regarding weight. The Eastern is the heaviest of turkeys and can weigh over 25 pounds.
Spur Size Matters
There is nothing more gratifying than calling in a big Tom on a frosty spring morning and then making a great shot and noticing he is sporting a big set of spurs. It’s a feeling even the warmest hunting clothes don't hide. Osceola turkeys are known to have the longest spurs, with Eastern turkeys a close second.
Measuring Blackbeard
Watching a big Tom waddle across an open field will get your heart racing. You know you have a big Tom when you notice he is considerably bigger than your decoy. If his beard is dragging the ground, then take the shot as soon as you get it. A turkey like that will give you instant turkey camp-cred and bragging rights for the rest of the weekend.
It All Adds Up
Who really has bragging rights this year? Since the weight, spur length and beard length all play into the score, an average bird in every category has a chance to win camp bragging rights. With the weight, spur length and beard length properly scored, the moment of truth is at hand.
Know That You Know
Of course, turkeys are not an easy quarry and any turkey is a trophy. The combined score doesn’t take into consideration the difficulty of finally calling in a hung-up Tom that came in from the wrong direction and the shot you made was leaning around a tree.
Meet My Bourbon Red – Woodford
Woodford is a Bourbon Red Turkey. He’s part of an elite group of turkeys called heritage breeds. They include a bunch of Woodford’s fine feathered friends like the Royal Palms, Narragansetts, Standard Bronzes, Slates, Blacks, White Midgets, Beltsville Small Whites, Jersey Buff, Midget White, and White Hollands.
Turkey Anatomy
No one can deny that a male turkey, called a Tom, in full feather is one of the most incredible spectacles you can see on a homestead or in the woods. In my humble opinion, a mature Tom is almost as bedazzling as a peacock if you pay attention to the details.
Feather Features
When at rest, male and female turkey feathering appears similar. The females are noticeably smaller, but otherwise, it can be difficult to distinguish them from males based on their feathers alone.
Two More Tom Traits
Toms have two more traits that you generally don’t see in female turkeys.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. All the things you need to know about turkey anatomy and then some!