Turkeys are always a challenge to hunt, but their anatomy and physiology is just as intriguing. Some think they are ugly, while others appreciate the array of colors and behavior. Heck, they were almost our national bird. So, as you gear up to chase these illusive birds in their natural habitat, take some time to familiarize yourself with some basic wild turkey anatomy and physiology.
The head of a turkey is a colorful cornucopia. Composed of the caruncles, wattles, snood and dewlap, all are used for different purposes. The changing of color and shape in males emanates aggression, sexual arousal and overall mood. It is a signpost for other turkeys. There are also tiny hairs and feathers around the ear to aid in hearing.
The main fighting tool of a tom is the spur. Since they do all the fighting for the right to breed, they are only present in males. Gobblers jump and use their spurs as daggers to attempt to injure the competition. Spur length is good teller of age, too. Toms with spurs longer than an inch are mature birds, while toms with spurs an inch or less are usually two-year old birds.
A turkeys beard is made from the same material as a rhinoceros hornkeratin. Keratinized epithelial cells are cells filled with the protein keratin. In this case, feathers in toms (and in some hens) keratinize and form the beard. So, a beard is essentially a collection of specialized feathers.
Archibald Rutledge once said, the turkeys eyes are such that he can see a bumblebee turn a somersault on the verge of the horizon. Turkeys can see as a human would while using 8-10x zoom on a pair of binoculars. They also do not have to focus in on objects. If they can see it, it is always in focus. Being able to see in a 300-degree range helps, too. The only spot they cannot see without turning their heads is directly behind them.
Oh, and unlike deer they can see color very well. Good luck.
A turkeys breast is what we call white meat, while its thighs and legs are dark meat. Why is this? White meat is made of light muscle. These muscles are meant for short burst of energy and lack a lot of hemoglobin to sustain activity for too long. Dark meat is composed of dark muscle, which contains high levels of hemoglobin and help sustain a lot of activity for long periods of time. Turkeys walk way more than they fly, so that is why the meat of the legs is dark and the breast is white. (This is why the breast of migratory birds like ducks is dark, FYI).
What interesting things have you noticed about a turkeys anatomy and physiology?
See original here:
Wild Turkey Anatomy and Physiology - OutdoorHub
- Chocolate Artistry [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2010]
- La Cabeza Circuitoide [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2010]
- Stuntkid: Anatomically Correct [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, This Saturday, April 10, 7-10 PM [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, This Saturday, April 10, 7-10 PM [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Flat Surgery [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2010]
- Job Opportunities at the Medical Museion, University of Copenhagen [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, TONIGHT! April 10, 7-10 PM [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2010]
- Animal Body Worlds at the Neunkirchen Zoo, Saarland, Germany [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2010]
- Congress for Curious People: Lectures Begin Tomorrow Night at the Coney Island Museum! [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- Job Opportunities at the Medical Museion, University of Copenhagen [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- Animal Body Worlds at the Neunkirchen Zoo, Saarland, Germany [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, TONIGHT! April 10, 7-10 PM [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- Anatomic Fashion Friday: Skeleton Bodysuit [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- Diabetes Ads [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- Anatomia del corpo humano [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2010]
- "The Brading Collection of Taxidermy, Waxworks, Costume and Similar Items," Duke's Auction House, Dorset, April 13th (Today!) [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Anatomy Pillow [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- A Brief History of Automata, An Illustrated Lecture and Demonstration by Mike Zohn, Obscura Antiques and Oddities, TONIGHT! Coney Island Museum [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- "The Brading Collection of Taxidermy, Waxworks, Costume and Similar Items," Duke's Auction House, Dorset, April 13th (Today!) [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2010]
- A Brief History of Automata, An Illustrated Lecture and Demonstration by Mike Zohn, Obscura Antiques and Oddities, TONIGHT! Coney Island Museum [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2010]
- Hip Pockets [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2010]
- "A History of Taxidermy: Art, Science and Bad Taste," An Illustrated Presentation By Dr. Pat Morris, Congress for Curious People, Coney Island Museum [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2010]
- “Wild Anatomy” by Rachel “Thirsty Fly” Caldwell [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2010]
- Charles Wilson Peale and the Birth of the American Museum, Coney Island Museum, Tonight!!! [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2010]
- "The Congress for Curious People," Epic 2-Day Symposium Begins Tomorrow!!! [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2010]
- "A History of Taxidermy: Art, Science and Bad Taste," An Illustrated Presentation By Dr. Pat Morris, Congress for Curious People, Coney Island Museum [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2010]
- Charles Wilson Peale and the Birth of the American Museum, Coney Island Museum, Tonight!!! [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2010]
- "The Congress for Curious People," Epic 2-Day Symposium Begins Tomorrow!!! [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2010]
- Anatomic Fashion Friday: Lady Grey Jewelry [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2010]
- "Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads" Book and Lecture by Stephen Asma, Thursday April 22, Observatory [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- "The Silken Web: The Erotic World of Paris, 1920-1946," Mel Gordon Lecture at Observatory, Tomorrow April 20th [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- Marylin Monroe Exposed [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- The Dance of Death, 1919, Attributed to Josef Fenneker [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- "Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads" Book and Lecture by Stephen Asma, Thursday April 22, Observatory [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2010]
- "The Silken Web: The Erotic World of Paris, 1920-1946," Mel Gordon Lecture at Observatory, Tomorrow April 20th [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2010]
- The Dance of Death, 1919, Attributed to Josef Fenneker [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2010]
- Military Docs Pluck Live Shell From Soldier’s Head [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2010]
- "The Rogue Taxidermy Kunstkammer," The Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2010]
- "Museums, Monsters and the Moral Imagination" Lecture by Stephen Asma, Tonight!, Observatory [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2010]
- "The Rogue Taxidermy Kunstkammer," The Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2010]
- "Museums, Monsters and the Moral Imagination" Lecture by Stephen Asma, Tonight!, Observatory [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2010]
- Feminal Artery [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2010]
- Anatomic Fashion Friday: Penis Trousers [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2010]
- The First Full Facial Transplant [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2010]
- "Anatomical Art: Dissection to Illustration," Exhibition Curated by Marie Dauenheimer, Arlington, Virginia [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2010]
- "Anatomical Art: Dissection to Illustration," Exhibition Curated by Marie Dauenheimer, Arlington, Virginia [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2010]
- John C. Miller [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2010]
- "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer, Observatory, Saturday May 1 [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2010]
- This Is Spinal Tape [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2010]
- "Excellent Old-School Science Models," Life Magazine Photo Gallery [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2010]
- "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer, Observatory, Saturday May 1 [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2010]
- "Excellent Old-School Science Models," Life Magazine Photo Gallery [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2010]
- Ventricle Vase [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2010]
- "Imaging / Imagining the Skeleton," Symposium, Tomorrow, Friday, April 30, 1:00-4pm, CUNY Graduate Center [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- Synthetic Being [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- Tomorrow Night at Observatory! "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- "Imaging / Imagining the Skeleton," Symposium, Tomorrow, Friday, April 30, 1:00-4pm, CUNY Graduate Center [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2010]
- Tomorrow Night at Observatory! "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2010]
- UIC’s Biomedical Visualization Program on CBS [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2010]
- Kim Joon [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2010]
- Head of Discovery and Engagement, Wellcome Library, Employment Opportunity [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2010]
- Talking While Driving [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2010]
- "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory, Thursday May 6 [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2010]
- Skin Drawings [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2010]
- Kabinett des Grotesken ("Cabinet of the Grotesque"), Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité, Spiegel Online [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2010]
- Head of Discovery and Engagement, Wellcome Library, Employment Opportunity [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2010]
- "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory, Thursday May 6 [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2010]
- Kabinett des Grotesken ("Cabinet of the Grotesque"), Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité, Spiegel Online [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2010]
- WAD Magazine [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2010]
- "The Saddest Object in the World," An Illustrated Meditation, Observatory, Friday, May 7th [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- "An Atlas of Topographical Anatomy after Plane Sections of Frozen Bodies," Christian Wilhelm Braune, 1877 [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- The Taxidermy of Mr. Walter Potter and his Museum of Curiosities, Melissa Milgrom [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- Industrial Strength Lungs [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- The Taxidermy of Mr. Walter Potter and his Museum of Curiosities, Melissa Milgrom [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- Tonight!!! "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- Original Fritz Kahn Posters and Key Booklet, Sotheby's Vintage Posters Auction, May 13 [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- "The Saddest Object in the World," An Illustrated Meditation, Observatory, Friday, May 7th [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2010]
- "An Atlas of Topographical Anatomy after Plane Sections of Frozen Bodies," Christian Wilhelm Braune, 1877 [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2010]
- Tonight!!! "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2010]