A wattle is a fleshy caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds and mammals. A caruncle is defined as 'A small, fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal's anatomy'. Within this definition, caruncles in birds include wattles, dewlaps, snoods and earlobes. Wattles are generally paired structures but may occur as a single structure... known as a dewlap.The word dates to the 1500, but it's origin is uncertain.
Turkeys' wattles often take a turn for the redder when they feel enlivened, overwhelmed, fearful, angry or alarmed. Whether something good or bad gets their attention, that rush of feeling often makes their wattles temporarily switch color. Apprehension also sometimes makes their wattles bluish.
Although female turkeys do indeed possess wattles, they're easy to miss. This also is the case with several other turkey physical features, namely both snoods and caruncles. Snoods are extremely easy to see right above male turkeys' beaks. Caruncles are noticeable on the males' lower necks, as sizable mounds. These things are simply a lot less apparent in female specimens. The wattles specifically are much lighter and less striking in females.
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i wonder if those odd names were chosen because the body parts are so odd looking?
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Yes, if wattle isn't an onomatopoeia, I don't know what is :)
DeleteLol, well I feel you may not know what is then !
DeleteWattle is a plant, a way of building a wall and ... and I could be wrong with its use here, but a device used by my hens to cool down, as in dog's paws and my air con.
I often chuckle my chooks under their chins/beaks and that piece of red flesh makes no noise, although the girls themselves make pigeon coos.
Perhaps an early ornithologist turned to another and asked "What'll we call it??"
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