What is Turkey Neck Skin Called? A Guide to the Red Flap on a Turkey’s Neck

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

The Turkey’s Neck Skin is Called the Wattle

The red flap of skin hanging from 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 the wattle is, its purpose, and other fascinating facts about this distinctive turkey trait.

What is the Turkey Wattle?

The wattle is an area of loose wrinkled skin that hangs from the neck of certain bird species like turkeys, chickens, and pheasants In turkeys, the wattle specifically refers to 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 Turkey 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 enlarges 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!

What About Turkey Neck Skin?

While the wattle refers specifically to the red flap under the turkey’s beak, “turkey neck” is a broader term that can refer to the loose, wrinkly skin that develops on the neck as turkeys age. This sagging neck skin is similar to what humans might experience as they get older.

As turkeys reach maturity, their neck skin and underlying neck muscles start to weaken and lose elasticity over time. This leads to excess sagging skin under the chin and on the neck that droops down, creating a “turkey neck” appearance.

The saggy turkey neck tends to be more pronounced in older birds, but can start to develop once turkeys reach adulthood. Hens are less prone to significant turkey neck than toms. But all turkeys will show some signs of wrinkling and loose neck skin as they age.

Genetics, sun exposure, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise can all contribute to a turkey developing a more prominent and unsightly turkey neck. While not necessarily unhealthy, most turkeys exhibit some degree of loose, sagging neck skin with age.

While it may look a bit strange to us, the turkey’s wattle and neck skin are important evolutionary adaptations. Next Thanksgiving when you spot that bumpy red flap, you’ll know it’s called the wattle and plays a key role for the iconic holiday bird.