Wild turkeys are large game birds native to North America. They are known for the males’ colorful feathers and the fleshy growth on their chest called a beard. But can female turkeys also grow beards? Let’s take a closer look at wild turkey anatomy and behavior to find out.
Do only male turkeys have beards?
The answer is no – female wild turkeys can also grow beards! However, it is much less common for hens to have prominent beards compared to toms (adult male turkeys). Here are some key facts about wild turkey beards:
- Nearly all adult male wild turkeys grow a beard. It is a distinguishing feature of mature toms.
- Only about 10% of female wild turkeys grow thick or long beards. Most hens lack a prominent beard.
- Female beards tend to be thinner and shorter than male beards. A tom’s beard may reach 12 inches long.
- Even beardless hens may have small tufts of hair-like feathers on their chest, known as a beardette.
So while beards are primarily associated with male wild turkeys, females can also sprout them. Let’s look at why wild turkeys have beards in the first place.
The purpose and function of turkey beards
Turkey beards are actually a specialized type of feather. They serve several important functions:
- Sexual dimorphism – The beard helps distinguish males from females during mating season.
- Display – Males use their beards in courtship displays to attract females.
- Dominance – Longer beards are correlated with higher testosterone levels in males. Beards signal a tom’s fitness.
- Protection – The coarse beard hairs may help cushion blows during fights between males.
For male turkeys, growing a long, thick beard confers advantages for reproduction and survival. But why would a female turkey sprout a beard?
Why do some female turkeys grow beards?
There are a few leading theories as to why a small percentage of female wild turkeys develop some form of beard:
- Genetics – There may be a genetic factor, likely linked to testosterone levels, that causes beard growth in some hens.
- Aggression – Bearded hens tend to have higher levels of aggression and dominance behaviors.
- Age – Older female turkeys are more likely to grow beards than younger hens.
- Reproductive strategy – Bearded hens may gain some reproductive advantages by appearing more male-like.
Scientists theorize that bearded female turkeys represent an alternative reproductive strategy. A bearded hen may be able to access resources more easily, have higher status in the flock, and attract mates more readily compared to non-bearded females.
Differences between male and female turkey beards
Although some female turkeys grow beards, there are still clear differences compared to male beards:
| Male Beards | Female Beards |
|---|---|
| Nearly all males have beards | Only around 10% of females have beards |
| 12 inches long on average | Usually less than 3 inches long |
| Very coarse, thick, and hair-like | Thinner, lighter, and less prominent |
| Used extensively for mating displays | Not used in mating displays |
As these comparisons demonstrate, male wild turkey beards tend to be much larger, thicker, and more visually prominent than female beards. The differences likely relate to the strong selective pressures on males to signal their fitness.
How common are bearded female wild turkeys?
Bearded hens are considered uncommon but not rare. Here are some statistics on how likely female turkeys are to grow beards:
- About 10-20% of adult female wild turkeys may have a beard.
- Studies estimate 3-15% of hens have a beard exceeding 2 inches long.
- In a sample of over 4,500 wild female turkeys, 11% had a detectable beard.
- Bearded hens are more common in some geographic areas than others.
- Older age and aggressiveness may increase likelihood of beard growth in hens.
So while most female turkeys remain beardless, a sizable minority do grow some degree of facial hair. Ornithologists believe the bearded hen strategy has evolved to maximize fitness in certain environments.
Do domestic turkeys have beards?
Domestic broad breasted turkeys, raised on farms mainly for their meat, usually lack the prominent beards seen in wild turkeys. Here’s some information on beards in domestic turkeys:
- Some domestic male turkeys have small snood-like beards, but not full beards.
- Genetics for long thick beards were lost through domestic breeding priorities.
- Farm-raised female turkeys almost never have beards.
- Heritage and wild-type turkey breeds have higher beard occurrences.
- Snoods, caruncles, and wattles take the place of beards for sexual display.
In summary, most domestic turkeys lack the dramatic beard plumage of their wild ancestors. But in rare cases, some heritage breed toms may retain the bearded gene.
Conclusion
While most people associate beards with male wild turkeys, females can also grow facial hair. Up to 20% of hens may develop small beards, which likely relates to age, aggression, and reproductive strategies. Male turkey beards are much larger and play pivotal roles in mating displays. The differences highlight the strong evolutionary pressures on male turkeys to signal their fitness. So next time you spot a big bearded turkey, look closely – it may just be a sneaky female!
