As fall approaches and Thanksgiving gets closer many of us start to think more about turkeys. The icon of the holiday dinner table turkeys are unique birds with interesting anatomical features. But if you’ve never looked closely at a turkey, you may not know much about their distinctive tails and tail feathers. Just how many feathers are in that showy tail fan that male turkeys display? Let’s take an in-depth look at turkey tail anatomy.
Turkey Tails Play Several Important Roles
A turkey’s tail serves multiple purposes. Like in other birds, the tail acts as a rudder and helps with steering and stabilization during flight. Given the turkey’s large, heavy body, their tail feathers need to be long and stiff to provide adequate support for flying
But turkeys also use their tails for communication and display. Male turkeys, known as toms or gobblers, will fan out their tail feathers to attract females during breeding season. The number and condition of the feathers conveys information about the male’s fitness. Dominant males will also fan their plumes when confronting other males.
Tail Fans Made ofSpecialized Feathers
A turkey’s tail fan consists of specialized tail feathers known as retrices. Slender yet stiff, these feathers can reach 12-15 inches in length in male turkeys. They are arranged vertically to form the iconic fan shape when displayed.
Unlike body feathers, turkey tail feathers lack barbicels – the small hooks that zip adjacent barbs together to create a unified vane. The lack of barbicels is why the retrices can spread apart to form the fan. Their smooth surface also reflects light, accentuating the iridescent sheen.
18 Feathers Is the Most Common Number
So exactly how many feathers form the tail fan? Most sources state that turkeys normally have 18 tail feathers. When the fan is fully spread, you can see 9 feathers on either side of the central shaft.
18 retrices seems to be the average, but natural variation exists. Some individuals may have more or less. 10 feathers on each side is not uncommon. There are even reports of turkeys with up to 20 long tail feathers making up their fans.
The number can also differ on the right and left sides of the same bird. Asymmetrical tail fans are not unusual, where one side has 9 feathers and the other 10, for example.
Females Have Shorter, Less Colorful Tails
The resplendent tails of male turkeys are designed to attract females. The drabber females lack the flashy feathers and long tails of the males.
Female turkeys, known as hens, have tails feathers that max out around 6 inches long. The tails are rounded at the tip when fanned, without the elongated shape of the male’s plumage. Hens may use tail fanning on occasion for communication, but not to the same degree as males during courtship.
Juveniles Have Shorter Tail Feathers
Turkey poults hatch out with tiny fuzzy bodies covered in down. As they grow, the distinctive tail feathers begin to emerge. But the feathers are quite short at first compared to adults.
Young males under a year old, called jakes, begin developing longer tail feathers. But the feathers are usually still under 10 inches during their first breeding season. The tails continue growing over time, reaching their full majestic proportions on older males.
Rare Mutations Can Increase Feather Count
While 18 is common, some turkeys naturally develop more tail feathers than average. And in rare cases, genetic mutations can cause even greater numbers.
One such mutation is known as polytrichia, which results in extra feather growth. Polytrichic turkeys have been reported with up to 28-30 tail feathers, substantially more than the norm. Even higher counts above 30 have been observed in extreme cases.
These anomalous turkeys illustrate the wondrous diversity that is possible in nature. Occasional genetic changes can alter development, leading to unique traits and features.
Tail Condition Changes Throughout the Year
Not only does feather number vary, but the condition of the feathers changes over the course of the year. In the fall, the tails of male turkeys are at their peak, with fully developed, iridescent feathers ready for courtship.
But by early winter, the feathers become worn and frayed from use. Toms begin dropping feathers in late winter and spring. By summer, they appear rather scruffy, with short, raggedy plumes.
The feathers regenerate each year before breeding starts anew in the fall. So turkeys go through an annual tail feather cycle just like other migratory birds.
What’s the Evolutionary Reason for 18 Feathers?
Eighteen tail feathers appears to be the typical number across most of the subspecies of wild turkeys. Six different subspecies are found in North America, and all share the same general tail anatomy.
This implies an evolutionary advantage to having around 18 retrices. Research suggests that this number provides the ideal amount of surface area for flight steering and control in birds the size of turkeys. More or fewer feathers may impact aerial maneuverability.
Through the process of natural selection over thousands of years, 18 feathers likely emerged as the optimal configuration for turkeys. Of course, nature constantly tinkers, generating some natural variation that may be adaptive.
Tail Spreading – An Essential Part of Turkey Display
However many long feathers a tom turkey grows, he is sure to put them to good use each breeding season. Fanning and spreading the tail is an integral part of courtship displays.
Along with puffing feathers, strutting, and gobbling, tail fanning allows males to show off for females. Toms will turn sideways to present the full breadth of their impressive tails and then rapidly fan the feathers open and closed.
This flag-like signaling helps attract females and demonstrates the male’s vigor. The courtship dance also provides hens a chance to assess potential mates before choosing a partner.
So while we don’t often think about turkey tails, they play a vital role in the turkey’s annual mating ritual. Fully appreciating the turkey’s life history enhances our understanding of these remarkable birds beyond the holiday table.
In Summary
- Male turkeys have large tail fans made of specialized long, stiff feathers called retrices
- The most common number of tail feathers is 18, with 9 on each side of the central quill
- Natural variation exists, with feather counts ranging from 16 to over 20 in some birds
- Females and juveniles have smaller, shorter tail feathers
- Males use tail fanning prominently in courtship displays to attract females
- The typical number of 18 feathers likely confers optimal flight control for turkeys
So the next time you see a male turkey strutting his stuff, take a moment to admire and count the feathers in his showy tail. While 18 is standard, this unique anatomical trait can vary across these charismatic gamebirds.
Full Strut – How It Happens
Turkey hunting wouldn’t be near as much fun if turkeys didn’t strut. Do you know how they do it? The mesmerizing transformation that inhabits the dreams of turkey hunters is actually a form of controlled goosebumps. Think “turkeybumps.” Certified wildlife biologist, Bob Eriksen, explained the mystery. The small muscles located at the base of each feather enable the bird to move and control the position of its feathers. Those muscles are connected to other very small muscles within the skin. When strutting, the turkey contracts the muscles that control feather position, causing the body feathers to stand erect. The same applies for a group of muscles located at the base of the tail, which acts as a swivel to display the fan more effectively. The same muscles in the wings enable the primary wing feathers to drop to the ground.
Start to finish, a gobble happens fast, lasting about a second. Interesting things happen in that short space of time that the naked eye can’t see. With high speed, digital frame rates a sequence of one gobble can be shot and analyzed in multiple s. The gobble is actually prefaced with the tom tilting its head downward, the beak opens wide, presumably to gulp air, the head and neck extend and the bird gobbles. During the gobble, the second, or inner eyelid often closes. A droopy snood may get caught like a worm in the birds beak as it whips about from the force of the gobble.
How many feathers does a turkey tail have?
FAQ
How many feathers does a turkey have on its tail?
Can turkeys regrow tail feathers?
Do turkey hens have tail feathers?
How many tail feathers does a Turkey have?
Turkeys have 18 tail feathers known as rectrices. Collectively, these turkey feathers are called the fan. The turkey’s tail feathers (along with the wing feathers) are overlapped by a series of feathers known as the coverts. These feathers help keep the turkey aerodynamic. They also provide insulation.
What do turkey tail feathers look like?
They’re about the same overall size as primary feathers but a bit wider. They’re also shorter and have slightly different stripe patterns. The colors include large black patches alternating with white and even brownish-orange tones. These give the turkey its dense color design. Female wild turkey tail feathers. Image courtesy of fws.gov
Why do turkeys have tail feathers?
The turkey’s tail feathers (along with the wing feathers) are overlapped by a series of feathers known as the coverts. These feathers help keep the turkey aerodynamic. They also provide insulation. One function of the tail feathers is to aid the turkey in flying. They help provide stability and landing control.
Are male turkey feathers more attractive than female feathers?
Note that male turkey feathers are typically brighter and more attractive than female feathers. Female feathers are duller to protect them from prey animals and to blend in more easily with their surroundings.