Turkeys come in a variety of colors, from the familiar brown and white, to striking black, blue, and copper varieties. The color of a turkey’s feathers can tell you a lot about its breed, gender, and genetic traits. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the meanings behind different turkey colorations, and what they reveal about these iconic birds.
Common Turkey Colors
The most common and recognizable turkey colors are brown and white. The brown feathers help wild turkeys camouflage and blend into the forest floor, while the white feathers create speckled patterns that break up the bird’s outline. This is the natural coloring of wild turkeys in North America.
Domesticated turkeys on farms also typically display the same brown and white coloring. The brown feathers cover most of the body, while the flight feathers on the wings and the tail feathers are tipped with white banding.
Bronze Turkeys
Some domestic turkeys have feathers that shine with a beautiful bronzed iridescence. This coloring comes from light refracting off the textured or metallic-looking areas of the feathers. Bronze feathering is a common genetic trait among Broad Breasted turkeys, a very large domesticated breed. The bronze sheen makes the normally brown feathers gleam with copper, green, and gold tones in the sunlight.
Black Turkeys
Turkeys with mostly or entirely black plumage are strikingly handsome birds. The dark coloration comes from a genetic lack of pheomelanin pigmentation. Breeds of black turkeys include:
- Black Spanish – Completely black with a green sheen
- Jersey Buff – Very dark brown to black
- Narragansett – Black body with tan breast
- Slate – Bluish-gray black coloring
Some black turkey breeds remain relatively rare, but they are prized for their dramatic feathers. The dark coloration also serves as natural camouflage for wild turkeys.
White Turkeys
Pure white turkeys are less common than brown or black varieties. They lack both pheomelanin and eumelanin pigments in their feathers. Breeds such as the White Holland turkey are a pristine bright white from beak to claw. Other white varieties include:
- Bourbon Red – White with dark red under feathers
- Royal Palm – White with black markings on tail and wings
- Midget White – Smaller heritage breed, all white
The striking white coloration may make these turkeys stand out against some backgrounds. But they are still beautiful, hardy birds.
Other Color Varieties
In addition to the common brown, black, and white turkeys, some rare breeds display other unusual colors:
- Blue turkeys – Bluish-gray color caused by the dominant “blue” gene
- Chocolate turkeys – Rich brown color resulting from a recessive gene
- Lavender turkeys – Very light gray color from the combination of blue and chocolate genes
- Red turkeys – Mahogany or dark reddish-brown feathers
These uniquely-colored turkey varieties are quite rare and special. Breeders value them for exhibitions, breeding, or just the novelty of their eye-catching hues.
What Turkey Colors Indicate About Gender
The colors and patterns of a turkey’s feathers can also reveal information about its gender:
| Turkey Gender | Color Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Male (tom) | – Bright red or blue head and neck skin |
| – Long breast feathers (beard) | |
| – Bright red or pink snood (fleshy growth above beak) | |
| Female (hen) | – Paler head skin color |
| – Lack beards | |
| – Smaller snood |
The differences in head coloration, snood size, and beards help humans determine a turkey’s sex even from a distance.
What Colors Mean in Wild Turkeys
In the wild, a turkey’s colors can signify age or communicate during courtship rituals:
- Young poults – Camouflage striping helps hide vulnerable chicks
- Juvenile males – Temporary black tips on breast feathers
- Adult males – Vibrant red, white, and blue color changes during mating displays
The wild turkey’s ability to alter its feathers is quite amazing. Different color patterns help with camouflage, communication, attracting mates, or warning competitors.
Genetics Behind Turkey Colors
The wide variety of turkey feather colors is made possible by well-understood genetic principles. Here are some of the key genes that influence color in turkeys:
| Gene | Effect on Color |
|---|---|
| Extended black (EB) | Produces black plumage |
| Blue | Dilutes black to blue-gray |
| Chocolate | Dilutes black to chocolate brown |
| Silver | Dilutes eumelanin to create white and patterned colors |
| Bronze | Creates iridescent bronze sheen |
By selecting birds with different combinations of these genes, breeders can produce turkeys with nearly any feather color they desire.
Conclusion
A turkey’s colorful plumage can reveal a lot about its breed, age, gender, and genetic traits. Whether nearly black, white, bronze, or reddish-brown, each feather shade has a meaning. The amazing variety of turkey colors and patterns provides insight into the biology of these unique birds, while adding beauty and visual interest to small farms and exhibitions.
So the next time you see a turkey, take a moment to appreciate the complex genetics and biology behind its striking feathers. The colors of turkeys have much more meaning than most people realize!
