Turkey beards are one of the most distinguishing features of wild turkeys. These long hair-like plumes protruding from a male turkey’s chest make them easily recognizable. But what exactly are turkey beards made of?
Turkey beards are composed of specialized feathers that are different from regular body feathers. They emerge from the breast between two feather tracts and are made up of detachable quills with barbs and barbules, just like regular feathers. However turkey beard feathers have evolved into elongated hair-like filaments that are black or brown in color.
Modified Feathers
Turkey beards are formed from modified feathers that are medically termed “filoplumes.” They emerge from a papilla or sheath at the base of the neck within the midline between two feather tracts on the sides of the neck where it merges with the upper breast.
Unlike regular feathers that have a central shaft with branches coming off it, turkey beard feathers lack a defined central shaft and are composed of a long, hair-like filament. They also lack the barbicels that hold barbs together in a normal feather.
So although turkey beards are feather derived, they have evolved to be filamentous bristles rather than flat, vaned feathers. Their composition is more similar to mammalian hair than regular feathers.
Emergence and Growth
Turkey beards start growing when males are about 5 months old. They emerge from feather follicles in the breast skin called papillae. Some male turkeys may have more than one papilla from which multiple beards can emerge. The average beard length is about 10 inches.
Turkey beards are living structures attached to the skin by blood vessels. They continue growing throughout a turkey’s life at a rate of around 5 inches per year. The longest recorded beard was over 11 inches!
As they grow longer, the weight of the beard puts tension on the papilla. This stimulates feather follicle cells to proliferate rapidly to produce more beard filaments. The long beard hairs are continuously growing at the base even as the oldest hairs at the tip get abraded and fall off.
Display and Dominance
The beard is thought to play a role in mate selection and establishing dominance hierarchies. Longer beards indicate an older, dominant male who has “good genes.” Hens may use beard length to choose the most fit males to mate with.
Males also assess each other’s fitness for competition based on beard length. Longer-bearded males tend to win confrontations and gain access to hens. So beard length is an honest signal of male dominance and survival ability.
Though beards in females are rare, about 10% of hens may grow short, wispy beards. The function in females is uncertain. One theory is that hen beards result from higher levels of testosterone.
Composition and Maintenance
The protein composition of turkey beard filaments is similar to feathers – mostly keratin, a fibrous structural protein. But beard feathers also have a medulla, a soft spongy core running through them. This differs from regular feathers which have a solid or hollow rachis core.
The medulla may give turkey beards their fluffy, hair-like texture and light weight. Their wispy nature keeps long beards from becoming too heavy a burden for males.
Turkeys maintain their beards by preening and spreading oil secretions over them. But long beards do get damaged through wear and tear. Fraying, breakage, and beard rot can shorten them over time. Males in rocky terrain tend to have shorter beards from abrasion.
Why do turkeys have beards? They won’t tell us, but we have a few ideas!
No one is sure why turkeys have beards, but most people think that a male turkey’s beard shows that it is in charge. Picking the right mate is especially important in the wild. Passing on strong genetic traits is important for the survival of the species. Often males fight for the honor of being the best and strongest in any species. Turkeys are no different, but why fight if you don’t have to? Fighting hurts and sometimes kills.
Being able to display good health and genetics is a lot easier to do. Birds typically do this through the color of their feathers. During mating season is when their feathers are the most vibrant and colorful. A male turkey, also known as a tom, has feathers that shine brightly in the sun when they strut. A turkey beard comes out of their chest as a modified set of feathers that never fall off. A beard will start growing shortly after the bird is hatched. It grows over the course of their lives. A turkey with a long beard is likely older, stronger, and more dominant for having lived longer. This would allow its offspring to be strong and have a greater chance of survival.
A short beard could be because of poor health. If the bird is struggling to eat well, the protein fibers the beard is made of become weaker. A change in color or a crimp in the beard can sometimes be seen as a sign of a change in growth.
It could also be a result of bad genes. Sometimes a turkey just will not grow a thick, full beard. This could prevent the tom from being selected as a mate. Merriam’s and some hybrid species are known to not have long, thick beards.
As they eat, their beards break off and drag on the ground, which also controls the length of their beards. In colder climates, ice and snow can accumulate on a beard causing it to break. The longest beard ever recorded was nearly 23 inches; anything over 12 inches is considered extremely unique.
There are some cases where toms will have multiple beards. It is not uncommon to see a double beard, but triples and beyond are considered very rare.
Multi Bearded Turkey & Turkey Beard Fun Facts
FAQ
Do turkey beards grow back?
What do people do with turkey beards?
Do all male turkeys have spurs?
What causes a turkey to have multiple beards?