What Are the Parts of a Turkey Called? A Guide to Turkey Anatomy

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. Its different from the long piece of flesh that grows down from the birds forehead, which is called a “snood,” 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.

Both male and female wild turkeys have both wattles and snoods, but they are much more prominent and noticeable in males, called toms. This is helpful during mating season, when extra blood rushes to the wattle, giving it a bright scarlet color. This is one of the primary functions of the wattle, because it helps the toms attract a hen, according to the National Audubon Society.

Wattles are useful for more than just attracting mates, however. When it is hot, the wattle can release excess heat. Turkeys dont sweat, and because their feathers are dark colored, they absorb a lot of heat on hot, sunny days. The skin on their wattle and their bare neck helps them release some of this excess heat, according to the Audubon Society.

The wattle can be a little like a mood ring, too. Blood flow into the wattle affects its color, and when a wild turkey is scared or threatened, the blood retracts from the wattle, making it appear blue, the Audubon Society reports. And if a turkey is ill, the wattle and snood will be very pale or almost white in color.

At this time of the year, we have turkey on the brain, so we are naturally more curious about these birds. And while their wattles may be one of their trademarks, they are hardly the only birds with wattles. Roosters have them, of course, but so, too, do some species of plovers, pheasants, storks, bellbirds and cassowaries, the Audubon Society reports.

Come Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will sit down to feast on turkey. But do you know what the different parts of a turkey are actually called? This guide covers turkey anatomy, from the fleshy snood to the keratinized spurs.

Head and Neck

Several distinctive features are found on a turkey’s head and neck:

Snood – A fleshy protuberance that hangs over the beak. Longer on male turkeys
Caruncles – Fleshy growths on the head and neck They become more prominent on male turkeys.
Wattles – A fleshy flap of skin under the chin. Both sexes have them.
Beak – The hard, pointed mouthpart of a turkey

Body

Breast – The upper front part of the body containing the pectoral muscles. This is the lean white meat.
Wing – Used for balance and limited flight. Has feathers used for display.
Thigh – The upper joint of the leg with darker, fattier meat.
Drumstick – The lower part of the leg below the thigh joint.
Back – Where the wings attach along the spine. Contains bone and darker meat.
Tail – Found at the rear above the anus. Used for balance and display.

Male Features

Beard – A tuft of stiff, hair-like feathers projecting from the breast.
Spurs – Pointed spikes on the legs used for fighting.
Fan – Rows of flashy feathers on the tail used in mating displays.

Lesser-Known Parts

Dewlap – A fold of loose skin on the neck. More prominent on toms.
Snood – A fleshy growth over the base of the beak.
Pope’s nose – The fatty tail nub where tail feathers attach.
Wishbone – The furcula, which aids in flight. Found in the chest cavity.

Feet and Legs

Shank – The scaled part of the leg above the foot, like an ankle.
Spur – A pointed keratinous growth used for fighting.
Toe – Turkeys have four toes, three facing forward and one back.
Claw – Pointed keratin at the end of each toe. Used for scratching and grip.

Inside the Turkey

When you cut into the turkey itself, you’ll find:

Breast muscles – The large pectoralis major and minor.
Leg muscles – Including the gastrocnemius, peroneus longus, and others.
Organs – Like the heart, lungs, kidneys and intestines.
Skeleton – Bones including the keel, femur, wishbone and vertebrae.
Skin – Connective tissue, fat and collagen covering the muscles.
Cartilage – Provides flexibility, especially around bone joints.

So next Thanksgiving when you marvel at the size of the turkey’s breast or gnaw on the drumstick, you’ll know exactly what body part you’re eating!

what are the parts of a turkey called

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How to Identify the Parts of a Turkey

FAQ

What are the body parts on a turkey called?

Written by: Dr. Turkeys have many of the same basic external parts as chickens—ears, earlobes, eyes, eye rings, beak, wings, tail, thighs, hocks, shanks, spurs, claws, and toes. However, some differences exist in the external anatomies of turkeys and chickens.

What are turkey toes called?

Turkey feet have three toes that point forward and a fourth one, which faces backward. This hind toe, called a hallux, does not always show in the tracks but can leave a small indentation from the nail. It is possible to determine if a track belongs to the right or left foot by finding the mark left by the hallux.

Do turkeys have claws or talons?

They Roost in Trees Tree cover provides protection against predators, and turkeys dig their talons deep into the branches, giving them a secure foothold.

What is the beard on a turkey called?

The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation – The wild turkey’s beard is neither hair nor feather; it’s actually comprised of keratinous filaments known to biologists as mesofiloplumes, which grow from a raised oval of skin called the papilla. On occasion gobblers have more than one papilla that result in multiple beards.

What is a turkey body parts diagram?

Moving on to the neck, the turkey body parts diagram shows the neck as a long, slender structure that connects the head to the body. It is covered in feathers and allows the turkey to move its head and reach for food. Connected to the neck is the breast, which is the meaty part of the turkey that is often used in cooking.

Which part of a Turkey is connected to the neck?

Connected to the neck is the breast, which is the meaty part of the turkey that is often used in cooking. The diagram also highlights the wings, which are located on either side of the body. Turkeys have two wings, each with three main sections: the primary feathers, secondary feathers, and tertiary feathers.

How does a turkey head differ from a chicken’s head?

For example, a turkey’s head (shown in Figure 1) differs from a chicken’s head in several ways. A turkey does not have a comb on the top of its head. Instead, it has a fleshy growth from the base of the beak known as the snood. The snood is longer in males and hangs down over the male turkey’s beak.

What makes a wild turkey unique?

The wild turkey’s various features are as visually appealing as they are peculiar, from its dangling snood to its iridescent feathers. These features are interesting to observe and help make wild turkeys the well-adapted survivalists and masters of elusion that we love.