Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are large birds native to North America that are known for their distinctive plumage and elaborate courtship displays. The male wild turkey, called a tom or a gobbler, is particularly recognizable for the ‘beard’ of thick, hair-like feathers that protrude from its chest. But perhaps the most conspicuous physical feature of male wild turkeys is their colorful, fan-shaped tail feathers.
What are the tail feathers on a wild turkey?
The tail feathers on a male wild turkey are known as the tail fan or gobbler tail fan. The tail fan consists of 20-22 feathers that can be over 1 foot long. These specialized feathers are covered with iridescent bronze, gold, red, purple, and green hues. The vivid colors of the tail fan stand out against the otherwise drab colors of a wild turkey’s feathers. Additionally, the tail fan can be flattened into a nearly full circular shape or folded upright into a vertical fan shape.
Anatomy of a turkey’s tail feathers
A turkey’s tail feathers have the same basic anatomy as other flight feathers, but with some distinct characteristics:
- Stiff central shaft – Made of a lightweight but sturdy material called keratin
- Vane – The thin side branches coming off the central shaft. In tail feathers, the vanes have pronounced iridescent colors.
- Rachis – A thin strand of keratin that joins the vanes together.
The semi-rigid structure of the central shaft allows the tail fan to be maneuvered and held in display positions. The delicate interlocking barbs of the vanes produce iridescent colors when light hits them.
When do turkey tail feathers emerge?
In male turkeys, the tail fans begin emerging at around 6-7 months of age. Initially the feathers are plain and lack the adult coloring. As the tom turkey matures over its first year, the feathers become longer and begin to show iridescent hues. By one year of age, a male wild turkey will have the full tail fan arrayed in dazzling colors.
Female wild turkeys have smaller, camouflaged tail feathers that help them blend into their surroundings while nesting. Juvenile males (jakes) have a tail fan that is about half the size of an adult gobbler’s tail.
Why do wild turkeys have colorful tail feathers?
The elaborate tail feathers in male wild turkeys evolved through sexual selection – they provide an advantage in securing mates but come with extra energy costs. There are several hypotheses about how the tail fan aids male wild turkeys:
Mate attraction
The iridescent colors help attract female turkeys visually. This suggests the tail feathers are an honest signal of the male’s health and vitality since growing colorful feathers requires substantial energy reserves.
Intimidating rivals
The large, showy tail fan allows males to signal dominance over other males. Spreading the tail fan can make a male appear larger and discourage fights.
Courtship displays
Male turkeys use specialized movements to show off their tail feathers during elaborate mating rituals. Fanning, drumming, and turning allow males to catch and reflect light off their iridescent feathers in dramatic courtship displays.
Communication
Research indicates that the tail fan helps communicate information to other turkeys through variations in positioning. For example, a vertical spread may signal aggression while a flattened fan may indicate a receptive mood.
In essence, the colorful tail fan provides many advantages to male wild turkeys competing for mates. The sexual selection for more elaborate tail plumage has led to the characteristic turkey tail seen today.
How do wild turkeys use their tail feathers?
Male wild turkeys use their tail feathers in several key turkey behaviors:
Strutting
Strutting allows males to show off their tail fans. The turkey centres its tail over its back, spreads the fan into a circular shape, and ruffles its wing feathers. This displays the full span of the tail.
Dragging
Dragging involves spreading the tail fan straight vertically and dragging the feathers along the ground as the male walks. This makes a visual impression and creates noise to attract females.
Fanning
Fanning is when the male gobbles and rapidly shakes its fanned tail back and forth. This shows off the flashing iridescent colors.
Drumming
Drumming occurs when the male vibrates its tail against the trunk of a tree or the ground, creating a muffled thumping sound. The feathers spread the vibrations.
In general, the tail fan is used for both intersexual displays to attract mates and intrasexual displays to deter rival males. The flexibility of the feathers allows for maximum visual impact.
When are the tail feathers displayed?
Male wild turkeys primarily use their tail fans during the breeding season which begins in early spring. Key times for displaying tail feathers include:
- Courtship – Males display constantly when females are nearby to attract a mate.
- Dominance – Males may spread tail fans in aggressive posturing against other males.
- Mating – Displaying may occur right before, during, and after mating.
The breeding season corresponds to the period when the tail feathers reach their peak length, color, and iridescence. During the non-breeding season, the feathers are shed and re-grow drabber replacements.
How do tail feathers benefit wild turkey survival?
While the flamboyant tail fans require a lot of energy to grow and maintain, they provide male wild turkeys with essential advantages for passing on their genes:
- Attract more mating opportunities
- Signal dominance over competitors
- Let females assess fitness indicators like health
However, the tail feathers also incur costs for males:
- Bright colors increase predation risk
- Large feathers could impede flight escape from predators
- Growing feathers requires extra protein and nutrients
But since the reproductive benefits outweigh the costs in most environments, natural selection has led to the evolution of elaborate tail fans in male wild turkeys and other polygynous birds.
What happens if tail feathers are damaged or lost?
Turkey tail feathers often become damaged through the rigors of mating displays and dominance fights. Loss of feathers orsymmetry in the tail fan can reduce a male’s mating success. However, turkeys can slowly re-grow damaged feathers during the breeding season. Within 4-6 weeks, the feathers may be long enough to resume displays.
If many feathers are completely pulled out, it will take longer regrow the full tail fan. Males missing large portions of their tails are at a disadvantage competing with other males. But the feathers will eventually re-emerge in time for the following mating season.
How do tail fan sizes and colors vary in wild turkeys?
There is considerable variation in the size and colors of tail fans between different male wild turkeys:
- Older males tend to have larger, more colorful tail fans
- Tail fan size is correlated to health and testosterone levels
- Colors differ based on small structural variations in feathers
- Some males exhibit rare white color morphs
Females likely use these differences to assess the physical condition of males during mating selection. Dominant, healthy males produce the biggest, brightest tail fans.
Differences between subspecies
There are six recognized subspecies of wild turkey in North America that show subtle variations in tail plumage:
Subspecies | Tail fan differences |
---|---|
Eastern wild turkey | Longer, pointed tail feathers |
Florida wild turkey | Very long tail feathers, brilliant colors |
Gould’s wild turkey | Shorter, rounded tail feathers |
Merriam’s wild turkey | Shorter, less iridescent tail feathers |
Rio Grande wild turkey | Intermediate length, green iridescence |
South Mexican wild turkey | Long, rounded feathers with purple iridescence |
These variations reflect local adaptations and sexual selections across the habitats of North America.
How do domesticated turkeys compare?
Domesticated turkeys descended from wild Mexico turkeys do not have the elaborate tail fans seen in wild birds. Selective breeding for meat production has led to reduced plumage. The tail feathers of domesticated turkeys are modest in size and lack vibrant colors.
Some heritage breeds of turkey retain more colorful plumage resembling wild turkeys. And domestic turkeys may still spread their tail feathers in displays, especially males establishing dominance. But the well-developed tail fans are a unique adaptation in wild turkey males for securing mates.
Conclusion
The extravagant tail feathers of male wild turkeys evolved to give them a reproductive edge. During the mating season, the gobblers strut and spread their tails to attract females and deter competing males. The iridescent bronze, copper, and gold colors signal the male’s fitness. Intricate courtship displays allow males to show off the full span, colors, and flexibility of their tail fans. Despite the energy required to grow and maintain the six-foot-wide plumage, the benefits of attracting more mates has led to the spread of showy tail fans in wild turkey populations across North America.
Interesting facts
- A wild turkey’s tail fan can spread over 1.5 m (5 ft) wide
- Tail feathers grow up to 18 cm (7 in) per week during breeding season
- Male turkeys can regrow lost tail feathers within 8 weeks
- Iridescent color is produced by light scattering in keratin layers of feathers
- Male turkeys shed and regrow tail feathers annually before breeding season