How rare is a bearded hen turkey?
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How rare is a bearded hen turkey?
The average incidence rate of hen turkeys with beards 10%. Hens with beards occur in all five subspecies of wild turkey. Bearded hens tend to be more common in the Merriam’s subspecies (19%) and quite rare among Osceola hens (less than 1%).
How can you tell a male turkey from a female?
Males, called toms or gobblers, are much larger than females. Males boast dark iridescent plumage; large, fanning tails; prominent snoods; and wattles. They make gobbles and other mating calls. Females, or hens, are smaller, with duller plumage and less prominent features.
Can a female turkey have a beard?
Turkey Beards Male turkeys, called gobblers and some female turkeys, called hens have beards. Only about 10 to 20 percent of hens grow beards, and it’s likely a genetic mutation, according to Sciencing.com. The beard’s function is not known with certainty, but it might influence mate selection by hens.
Why does my female turkey have a beard?
Like the fleshy head appendages, turkey beards are believed to be an aesthetic feature intended to attract mates; beards become more erect when a tom is aroused. The longer the beard, the older the turkey they can eventually grow to about 12 inches in length.
What percentage of turkey hens have beards?
10 to 20 percent
How rare is a double bearded turkey?
Multiple beards on a bird is not a common occurrence, with estimates suggesting that less than 10% of toms sport more than one beard, said Dr. Mike Chamberlain, our favorite wild turkey researcher, from the University of Georgia.
Can female turkeys have beards?
Rarely, toms have multiple beards, which are aligned vertically along the breast, with the longest beards on the bottom and getting smaller as they go up. Some, but not all, female turkeys also grow beards, though they top out at about 6 or 7 inches.
Why do turkey hens have beards?
Not hair, like mammal beards, the gobbler’s beard is made of modified feathers or tufts of filaments. It’s not clear Turkey beards’ purpose is not clear, but they may help differentiate birds or may be a sign of virility to attract females. Beards and spurs on turkeys differentiate males from females.