Pteronophobia is the fear of feathers, feathered objects i.e., birds, or being tickled by feathers. As a turkey hunter I’ll go out on a limb and say turkey hunters aren’t likely to suffer the “fear of feathered objects” part of this affliction. Why? Aside from a turkey’s soul shaking gobble, its breathtakingly stunning plumage captivates us when a strutting spring gobbler’s sun-kissed feathers magically beam a kaleidoscope of colors declaring its majesty. Our hearts may skip a beat and breaths quicken, though not out of fear, but reverent gratitude. As you stroke the feathers of your next tagged turkey take a moment to contemplate the miracle of their perfection.
To better understand the form, function and maintenance of feathers important insight is included from wild turkey expert and researcher, Dr. Michael J. Chamberlain, PhD., Terrell Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia.
For as long as people have been cooking turkeys for holiday feasts, there’s been an ongoing debate – which side of the turkey has more feathers? It’s a riddle that has puzzled cooks and poultry enthusiasts alike. As a lover of all things turkey I decided to do some research to finally put this question to rest.
In this article I’ll share my learnings on turkey feather anatomy distribution, and density. You’ll also find out the truth about whether one side of a turkey truly does have more feathers. Get ready to gain fascinating new trivia to impress your family at the next Thanksgiving dinner!
Let’s start with some turkey feather basics. All turkey feathers grow out of follicles in the skin, just like human hairs. There are different types of feathers that serve unique purposes:
- Contour feathers – These long, stiff feathers cover the body and help retain heat while protecting from rain and wind.
- Down feathers – Fluffy and short, these keep turkeys insulated and warm.
- Filoplumes – Hair-like feathers mainly found on the neck and breast that detect movement.
- Flight feathers – Long, asymmetrical feathers on the wings and tail necessary for flying.
Turkeys can have between 5,000-6,000 feathers total. Now let’s look at how those feathers are distributed across the body.
How Feathers Are Distributed on a Turkey’s Body
The most feathers are found on the breast. This is because the breast is the area most exposed to the elements and most in need of insulation.
The back and rump have fewer contour feathers since they are somewhat protected by the wings when folded against the body.
The legs have the least feathers, with mostly bare skin showing. Less insulation is needed here since the legs don’t get as cold.
The wings and tail feature specialized flight feathers asymmetrically arranged to allow for aerodynamic movement.
So in terms of total surface area covered, the breast does have the highest concentration of feathers. But does that mean one side of the turkey necessarily has more?
Determining If One Side Has More Feathers
When you look at a plucked, uncooked turkey, you’ll notice the distribution of feathers is basically symmetrical between the left and right sides.
There is an equal number of feathers sprouting from the skin on both the left and right breast. The same goes for the left and right sides of the back, wings, thighs and other body parts.
There is no physiological reason why more feathers would grow on one side versus the other. The follicles are evenly distributed to provide equal insulation.
So when someone asks you which side of the turkey has more feathers, the true answer is that neither side does! Both the left and the right have matching feather coverage.
Where Did This Myth Originate?
If both sides of a turkey objectively have the same number of feathers, why has this myth about one side being featherier persisted? There are a few possible explanations.
- When feathers are ruffled by the wind or turkey’s movements, it may appear fuller on one side at a given moment. But that is just an optical illusion.
- People often have a dominant hand they use when handling the turkey, so they may inadvertently fluff one side more.
- Since the breast has the most feathers overall, a slight asymmetry in that area is more noticeable. But the back left and right sides are still equal.
- Creative Thanksgiving hosts may have invented this riddle just to stump their family members!
Fun Turkey and Feather Facts
Now that you know the truth about turkey feather distribution, here are some more fascinating turkey fun facts:
- Only male turkeys (toms) have the long, noticeable tail feathers. The tail feather tips are chestnut brown.
- Turkeys can see in color with excellent vision during the day, but they have poor night vision.
- The snood (fleshy protuberance over the beak) helps regulate body temperature. It changes color when the turkey is angry or excited.
- Young turkeys or poults can run speeds up to 12 miles per hour and fly short distances at 10-15 mph.
- Turkey feathers were used as quill pens for writing in Colonial America.
- Feathers make up around 7% of a turkey’s total body weight.
- Turkeys preen their feathers daily, using their beaks like a comb to keep them arranged properly.
I hope these fun facts helped explain the truth about turkey feather growth and distribution. Share this info at your next Thanksgiving meal when the debate inevitably comes up again!
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Turkey Feather Pigmentation and Iridescence Explained
Colors in feathers are formed from pigments or from light refraction caused by the structure of the feather, or a combination of both. Pigments such as melanin are the colored substances found in turkey feathers. Melanin can produce colors from the darkest black to reddish browns and pale yellows. Color abnormalities occur when pigments are present or deficient at unusual levels such as in leucistic or melanistic color phases. Structural colors are produced by the structure of the feather as light is refracted. In wild turkeys, iridescence is caused by light refraction off the structure of the feather barbules.
Dr. Chamberlain: The brilliant colors are caused by light refracting off feathers, rather than feather colors. Crystals within the feathers block certain wavelengths of light but allow others to pass, which controls the intensity of colors. Iridescence which is the phenomenon where a surface appears to change colors as the angle of view changes, creates the brilliant shine that makes toms so stunning. Color and iridescence are an important part of the display toms use, and help hens determine the fittest tom in the breeding population.
Wild Turkey Feather Facts
Feathers serve in insulation, waterproofing, protection, concealment and recognition. A turkey’s 5,000 to 6,000 feathers are arranged in tracts, or pterylae. Feathers are composed mostly of keratin, a strong lightweight protein as in our hair and nails. The hollow base is the quill, or calamus. While the feather is growing blood vessels pass through it. The supply cuts off when it’s fully grown. The shaft, or rachis is the midrib extending through the feather’s center giving it stiffness and structure. Rising from both sides of the shaft are small, pigment-embedded structures called barbs. Tiny barbules branch off and lock the barbs together. Tinier hooked barbicels at the barbule’s end hold the feathers completely interlocked in a Velcro like manner. Together they form the soft and colorful vane. Feathers are layered like shingles giving the body shape and aerodynamics necessary for flight. A muscle controls each feather allowing it to move left or right, up or down, fluff or lay flat.
Primary feathers are the stiff, long feathers attached to the rump and wing. These include the typical 18 tail retrices, or fan feathers, which provide flight stability, steering and landing control for the heavy-bodied bird. During mating season, the colorfully displayed fan plays an important role in attracting hens and intimidating rivals. Tip colors in tail feathers and the covert feathers that cover their base vary with subspecies. Brown tips are characteristic of Osceolas, and Easterns. Rio Grandes have tan to buff tips and Merriam’s and Gould’s have whitish tips.
The ten black and white barred primary and 18 or 19 secondary flight feathers are called remiges. Extended, the primaries resemble outstretched fingers and have a long, slightly curved shaft with the vane narrower on the leading side than on the back. Shorter, wider secondaries support the primaries in their function. Specialized covert flight feathers overlay and protect the base of the wing feathers helping to shape them and provide warmth.
Dr. Chamberlain: Wing primaries are attached to the manus (the bird’s hand) and can be individually adjusted like fingers, offering agility in flight. The black and white barring is a way to age birds. Juveniles under a year-old lack barring at the ends of the outermost feathers. Toms use their primaries to draw attention while strutting. The feathers dragging the ground is distinctive to courtship displays. The amount of barring differs across the subspecies. Easterns have slightly more white than black barring, whereas Osceolas have little white barring which makes them appear almost black. Rio Grandes have wing barring that’s mostly equal black to white. Merriam’s and Gould’s have more white than black.
Contour, or body feathers give the bird its shape and colors. A tom’s contour feathers are typically dark with black tips while a hen’s are brownish or gray with
brown to light tips. Contour feathers are layered much like shingles in overlapping rows that form a protective waterproof layer that shields the body. Attached muscles allow the feathers to be held tightly against the body in warm temperatures or fluffed in cold weather to trap air for warmth.
Bristle feathers are hair like feathers that function as sensory tools and grow on the turkey’s head and neck. They’re well developed on hens as shown.
Dr. Chamberlain: We don’t know a ton about bristle feathers although they’ve been studied in other birds. I believe the ones that shield the ear are also bristle feathers, which makes sense because I suspect those feathers assist with sound to the ear and aid the bird in determining directions of sounds. I don’t know that, just a suspicion on my part. The beard is different than the bristle feathers, in that it’s a modified feather that serves primarily in mate attraction (and we believe) status amongst males but similar to other things with turkeys, we really lack an understanding of what all the beard does.
Down feathers, the soft, fluffy white feathers that grow close to the turkey’s body provide excellent insulation by trapping air between the body and the contour feathers. Poults are covered in natal down at hatching, which is rapidly replaced with juvenile feathers.
Which Side Of A Turkey Has More Feathers
FAQ
Which side of the turkey has the most?
How do you identify turkey feathers?
What does it mean when turkeys spread their feathers?
How many feathers does a turkey have?
Which side of a Turkey has more feathers?
Answer: In the dictionary. Which side of the turkey has more feathers? Answer: The outside. What should you say when your family begs you to stop making Thanksgiving jokes? Answer: “I can’t quit cold turkey!” Why didn’t the cook season the Thanksgiving turkey? Answer: There was no thyme. What sound does a space turkey make?
Do turkeys have feathers?
You can notice the structures of the feathers more efficiently on a turkey than a small sparrow that you might spot in your backyard. The central shaft holding the feather to the bird’s body gives the feather its structure. The portion of the shaft that spreads beneath the body is called the calamus.
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.
What are Turkey body feathers?
Body Feathers: Turkey body feathers are typically those closest to their body, such as along their chest and legs. These feathers are usually shorter than wing feathers, with a broader end that narrows into a V-shape.