A wild turkey is instantly recognizable for many reasons. These birds are large, occasionally weighing in excess of twenty pounds, but what usually draws our attention is the vivid red skin that dangles from their necks.
This fleshy, bumpy skin has a name: the wattle. It’s not the same as the long piece of flesh called a “snood” that protrudes from a bird’s forehead, according to PBS. Snoods can be short, sticking up like a horn, or long, extending past the nose. The fleshy bumps on the turkeys head and neck are called caruncles.
Wild turkeys have wattles and snoods on both sexes, but the males, known as toms, have considerably more of them and can be seen. This is advantageous during the mating season, when the wattle receives an extra blood rush that turns it a vivid scarlet color. According to the National Audubon Society, this is one of the wattle’s main purposes since it aids the toms in luring a hen.
Wattles are useful for more than just attracting mates, however. When it is hot, the wattle can release excess heat. Turkeys don’t sweat, and on hot, sunny days, they absorb a lot of heat due to the color of their feathers. According to the Audubon Society, they are able to expel some of this extra heat through their wattle and bare neck skin.
The wattle can be a little like a mood ring, too. According to the Audubon Society, a wild turkey’s color is determined by blood flow into the wattle. When the turkey feels scared or threatened, blood retracts from the wattle, giving the appearance of blue. Additionally, a sick turkey’s wattle and snood will be extremely pale, if not completely white.
We naturally have more curiosity about these birds at this time of year because we can’t stop thinking about turkey. And while their wattles may be one of their trademarks, they are hardly the only birds with wattles. Naturally, roosters have them, but according to the Audubon Society, certain species of plovers, pheasants, storks, bellbirds, and cassowaries also have them.
The fleshy, red flap of skin that hangs from a male turkey’s neck is called a wattle. Wattles are a common feature of many birds, including turkeys, chickens, and geese. They are thought to serve a variety of purposes, including:
- Heat regulation: Wattles are highly vascularized, meaning they contain a lot of blood vessels. This allows them to help regulate the bird’s body temperature. On hot days, the blood vessels in the wattle dilate, allowing more blood to flow through and helping to cool the bird down.
- Courtship display: Wattles are often brightly colored, and they can be inflated or deflated by the bird. This makes them a useful tool for displaying to potential mates. In turkeys, for example, the male’s wattle will become engorged with blood and turn bright red when he is trying to attract a female.
- Communication: Wattles can also be used for communication. Birds can use their wattles to express a variety of emotions, such as aggression, fear, or excitement.
- Defense: Wattles can also be used for defense. Some birds, such as the cassowary, have very large wattles that they can use to strike at predators.
Wattles are an important part of a bird’s anatomy, and they play a variety of roles in the bird’s life. If you’re ever curious about what those fleshy flaps of skin are on a bird’s neck, just remember that they’re called wattles, and they’re there for a reason!
Here are some additional facts about wattles:
- Wattles are not found on all birds. Some birds, such as owls and parrots, do not have wattles.
- Wattles can vary in size and shape depending on the species of bird.
- Wattles are not always red. Some wattles are blue, yellow, or even black.
- Wattles are not just found on birds. Some reptiles, such as lizards, also have wattles.
P.S. I’m always learning new things about birds, so if you have any interesting facts about wattles, please share them in the comments below!
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