What is the Red Flap of Skin on a Turkey’s Neck Called?

I was looking for thanksgiving turkey crafts to do with the kiddos this month, and also some coloring sheets, when I remembered something. The more I looked at turkeys, even the simply drawn ones, they all had that red thing dripping off the side of their head.

I’ve seen it called a wattle, too, but according to Time magazine, the wattle is actually the skin folds under the turkey neck that fill with blood and puff the bird up.

The snood might serve a similar purpose, but there doesn’t seem to be a consensus or clear explanation in what I’ve found so far.

On the other hand, the wattle’s funny in it’s own way. Snoods and wattles can vary in color, size, shape, etc. But what’s funny is the wattle seems to also be an indicator of mood.

And the color and such is supposed to tell females nearby that the male’s on the prowl for a date and they may just come flocking over.

And I’m glad I’m not the only one baffled. Many of the turkey-project diagrams I’ve been printing out label that little beak-skin piece the wattle. And yet, that’s not entirely wrong, it seems.

Guess we’ve got something else to argue about come Thanksgiving dinner… better than election crap, I hope.

Any other weirdness you guys and gals have learned about the Turkey, or holiday food, or anything about Thanksgiving at all that would be fun to share? Go for it.

As a centerpiece of many Thanksgiving meals, the turkey is a familiar sight to most But while we love eating turkey, many don’t know much about the bird’s unique anatomy and features One distinctive aspect that often grabs attention is the red flap of bumpy, wrinkly skin that dangles from a turkey’s neck. So what is this distinctive turkey feature actually called?

The red flap on a turkey’s neck is known as the wattle. Along with the fleshy snood that hangs over the beak, the wattle is an iconic part of the turkey’s appearance. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly the wattle is, what purpose it serves, and other fascinating facts about this distinctive turkey trait.

What is the Wattle?

The wattle is an area of loose wrinkled skin that hangs from the neck of certain bird species. In turkeys the wattle is the red flap of bumpy, fleshy skin under the beak. It hangs in a fold on the neck, flopping around as the turkey moves its head. Wattles are present on both male (toms) and female (hens) turkeys. However, they tend to be larger and more prominent on males.

A turkey’s wattle is bright red due to the extensive blood supply flowing through it. The skin contains many blood vessels near the surface, giving it the rich red coloration. The size, shape, texture and exact color of the wattle can vary between individual birds.

What is the Purpose of the Wattle?

Although the wattle may seem like an unusual appendage, it does serve several useful purposes for turkeys:

Temperature regulation – The lack of feathers on the wattle allows heat to dissipate, helping cool the bird Turkeys don’t sweat so the wattle aids in temperature control
Signal of health – The size and color of the wattle indicates the turkey’s fitness. A vibrant red, well-developed wattle signals a healthy bird.
Courtship display – Toms use the wattle to attract mates. It reddens and engorges during breeding season, signaling virility to hens.
Communication – Subtle changes in the wattle’s size, shape and color help turkeys communicate moods and status.

Overall, the wattle plays an important role in turkey visual communication, signaling vital information to potential mates and rivals.

Turkey Wattle Facts and Trivia

Beyond its purpose, there are some other interesting turkey wattle facts worth knowing:

Wattle comes from the Old English word “watel” meaning a flexible piece of metal or wood.
Other birds like chickens, pheasants and cassowaries also have wattles, but of varying size, shape and color.
The snood is the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey’s beak. Like the wattle, it is more prominent on males.
Rare “hormonal hen” turkeys may develop male characteristics like a large wattle and snood. But normally only toms have sizable wattles.
The wattle’s irregular surface is due to carbuncles – small, round bumps formed by clusters of cells.
Removing the wattle during butchering is optional. It does not affect the meat and is edible but not commonly eaten.
In some cases, the wattle may become infected or develop wattles disease. This causes swelling and requires veterinary attention.
The wattle has no skeletal attachment. It hangs freely and turkeys have no muscular control over it.
Blood flow and engorgement determine the wattle’s size and color at any given time.

Why Do Turkeys Have Wattles?

The wattle is an evolutionary adaptation that gives turkeys several advantages:

As mentioned, the bare skin of the wattle allows heat to dissipate. This is vital since turkeys do not sweat and can overheat easily.
The wrinkled texture and redundancy of the skin provides an expanded surface area for evaporative cooling.
As a fleshy appendage full of blood vessels near the skin, the wattle acts as a dynamic signaling device. Changes in size, shape and color communicate a turkey’s mood and condition very visually.
The prominent wattle functions in courtship displays. Toms use the wattle to signal fitness and attract hens during breeding season.

Overall, the turkey’s wattle provides important thermoregulatory, communication, and reproductive benefits that have evolved over time. The peculiar flap of skin is far more useful than it may first appear!

So the next time you notice that distinctive red appendage hanging from a turkey’s neck, you’ll know it is called the wattle. While it may look strange, the wattle is a unique and purposeful part of the turkey’s anatomy.

what is red thing on turkey called

A recovering recluse stumbles from her dark hole in pursuit of a brighter world (and a decent cup of tea)

what is red thing on turkey called

Apparently, it’s called a snood, but what the hell is it?

And why does it just hang there like that?

I’ve seen it called a wattle, too, but according to Time magazine, the wattle is actually the skin folds under the turkey neck that fill with blood and puff the bird up.

The snood might serve a similar purpose, but there doesn’t seem to be a consensus or clear explanation in what I’ve found so far.

I just find it a bit funny–what the hell is it and why?

On the other hand, the wattle’s funny in it’s own way. Snoods and wattles can vary in color, size, shape, etc. But what’s funny is the wattle seems to also be an indicator of mood.

So, a fleshy mood-ring around the neck?

And the color and such is supposed to tell females nearby that the male’s on the prowl for a date and they may just come flocking over.

Sheesh, the more I read on the turkey, the weirder it gets.

Confused? Me too. I lost count of the differing explanations I’ve read.

Guess we’ve got something else to argue about come Thanksgiving dinner… better than election crap, I hope.

Any other weirdness you guys and gals have learned about the Turkey, or holiday food, or anything about Thanksgiving at all that would be fun to share? Go for it.

What’s that red thing on a turkey?

FAQ

What is the red on the turkey?

And there, dangling from the chin, is a wrinkly mass of bumpy, warty-looking red skin: the wattle. Why have a wattle? Wattles are an adaptive feature that come in handy in several ways. On a hot day, with the sun bearing down, the bare skin of neck and wattle helps release excess heat.

What is the turkey gobbler called?

TOM OR GOBBLER: An adult male. WATTLE: A flap of loose skin hanging under the chin and neck. SNOOD: A flap of skin that hangs down over the beak. Females prefer to mate with long-snooded males, and male turkeys defer to males with longer snoods.

What is the red stuff with turkey?

That fleshy red thing that hangs over a turkey’s beak is called a “snood.” Toms and hens both have them, but they’re much smaller and less noticeable on the female. A nice, long snood on a tom tells the hen, “that’s a good mate.” The longer the snood, the better the genes.