What is the term for the specialized, hair-like feathers found growing from the center of a male Wild Turkey's breast?
Answer
Beard
A distinctive feature of the male Wild Turkey, or tom, is the beard, which is a tuft of specialized feathers that grows directly from the center of its breast area. These specialized feathers are notable because they resemble dark brown or black coarse hair rather than typical plumage. While the vast majority of toms possess this feature, it is generally absent in hens, although a small subset of females can occasionally develop a short beard. This beard can sometimes be shed and subsequently regrow, or in rare instances, a male may even develop multiple beards.
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