Snood vs. Wattle — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 20, 2024
A snood is a fleshy protuberance above a turkey's beak, which elongates during excitement or stress, while a wattle is the fleshy hanging skin under the neck of certain birds, often vibrant and involved in mate attraction.
Difference Between Snood and Wattle
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The snood is a distinctive feature found primarily on turkeys, located at the base of the beak and extending to hang over it. On the other hand, the wattle is generally found in various birds, including chickens and turkeys, and hangs from the neck or throat area. Both are made of soft tissue and are more prominent in males.
In turkeys, the snood becomes longer and changes color as part of a display during mating rituals or when the bird feels threatened. Whereas wattles, often bright and colorful, serve a similar purpose in courtship, signaling health and vitality to potential mates in many species.
The presence and size of a snood can be a signal of genetic strength and health, particularly in wild turkey populations. Conversely, wattles, while also indicative of health, are more diverse in function and appearance across different bird species, reflecting a broader range of evolutionary adaptations.
While the snood is specific to a few bird species, wattles appear in a variety of forms and colors across numerous bird species, each adapted to specific ecological niches and mating strategies. This shows a significant evolutionary divergence in how different bird species use physical traits for selection.
Both the snood and wattle can vary in size and color based on the bird's health and hormonal levels, influencing their roles in social and reproductive behaviors. However, the snood's impact is mostly observed in turkeys, making it a more specialized trait compared to the more commonly observed wattle.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A fleshy protuberance above a turkey's beak.
A fleshy hanging skin under the neck of birds.
Location
Above the beak.
Under the neck or throat.
Function
Signaling in mating and social interactions.
Mate attraction, signaling health.
Species
Mostly turkeys.
Various birds, including chickens and turkeys.
Color Change
Changes during excitement or stress.
Often colorful, varies with species.
Evolutionary Role
Part of mating display, signals genetic health.
Diverse, reflects broader ecological adaptations.
Compare with Definitions
Snood
A fleshy growth above the beak of turkeys and some other birds.
The turkey's snood swelled and turned bright red as it displayed.
Wattle
Exhibits significant variety across bird species.
The size and color of a wattle can vary greatly among different birds.
Snood
Extends and changes color based on the bird's emotional state.
Observers noted the snood's dramatic change during the turkey's mating dance.
Wattle
The hanging skin under the neck or from the throat area of certain birds.
The rooster flaunted its bright red wattle to attract hens.
Snood
Primarily a social signaling tool in turkeys.
A large snood is often an indicator of a genetically superior turkey.
Wattle
Often a feature used to distinguish between species or gender of birds.
Female and male birds of some species can be differentiated by their wattle characteristics.
Snood
Associated with both wild and domesticated turkey species.
Even domesticated turkeys exhibit prominent snood development.
Wattle
Functions in body temperature regulation and mate attraction.
Wattles help in releasing excess body heat during high temperatures.
Snood
Can be a determinant in turkey pecking orders.
Turkeys with longer snoods tend to dominate social interactions.
Wattle
Seen in a wide range of birds from chickens to turkeys and some exotic birds.
Exotic birds like the cassowary display vivid and large wattles.
Snood
An ornamental hairnet or fabric bag worn over the hair at the back of a woman's head
Her blonde hair was held in place by a velvet-mesh snood
Wattle
A material for making fences, walls, etc., consisting of rods or stakes interlaced with twigs or branches.
Snood
A wide ring of knitted material worn as a hood or scarf.
Wattle
An acacia.
Snood
A short line attaching a hook to a main line in sea fishing
A bit of silver paper wrapped on the snood often triggers a bite
Wattle
A coloured fleshy lobe hanging from the head or neck of the turkey and some other birds.
Snood
A bag typically made of net fabric that is worn at the back of the head to keep hair in place.
Wattle
Make, enclose, or fill up with wattle.
Snood
A wide, loose, tubular scarf.
Wattle
A construction of poles intertwined with twigs, reeds, or branches, used for walls, fences, and roofs.
Snood
A headband or fillet.
Wattle
Material used for such construction.
Snood
A fleshy wrinkled fold of skin that hangs down over a turkey's beak.
Wattle
(Botany) Any of various Australian trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.
Snood
To hold (the hair) in place with a snood.
Wattle
A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored fold of skin usually hanging from the neck or throat, characteristic of certain birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Snood
A band or ribbon for keeping the hair in place, including the hair-band formerly worn in Scotland and northern England by young unmarried women.
Wattle
To construct from wattle.
Snood
A small hairnet or cap worn by women to keep their hair in place.
Wattle
To weave into wattle.
Snood
The flap of erectile red skin on the beak of a male turkey.
Wattle
A construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof.
Snood
A short line of horsehair, gut, monofilament, etc., by which a fishhook is attached to a longer (and usually heavier) line; a snell.
Wattle
A single twig or rod laid on a roof to support the thatch.
Snood
A piece of clothing to keep the neck warm; neckwarmer.
Wattle
A wrinkled fold of skin, sometimes brightly coloured, hanging from the neck of birds (such as chicken and turkey) and some lizards.
Snood
To keep the hair in place with a snood.
Wattle
A barbel of a fish.
Snood
The fillet which binds the hair of a young unmarried woman, and is emblematic of her maiden character.
And seldom was a snood amidSuch wild, luxuriant ringlets hid.
Wattle
A decorative fleshy appendage on the neck of a goat.
Snood
A short line (often of horsehair) connecting a fishing line with the hook; a snell; a leader.
Wattle
Loose hanging skin in the neck of a person.
Snood
To bind or braid up, as the hair, with a snood.
Wattle
Any of several Australian trees and shrubs of the genus Acacia, or their bark, used in tanning.
Snood
An ornamental net in the shape of a bag that confines a woman's hair; pins or ties at the back of the head
Wattle
This plant seen as the national emblem of Australia.
Wattle
(transitive) To construct a wattle, or make a construction of wattles.
Wattle
(transitive) To bind with wattles or twigs.
Wattle
A twig or flexible rod; hence, a hurdle made of such rods.
And there he built with wattles from the marshA little lonely church in days of yore.
Wattle
A rod laid on a roof to support the thatch.
Wattle
A naked fleshy, and usually wrinkled and highly colored, process of the skin hanging from the chin or throat of a bird or reptile.
Wattle
The astringent bark of several Australian trees of the genus Acacia, used in tanning; - called also wattle bark.
Wattle
Material consisting of wattled twigs, withes, etc., used for walls, fences, and the like.
Wattle
In Australasia, any tree of the genus Acacia; - so called from the wattles, or hurdles, which the early settlers made of the long, pliable branches or of the split stems of the slender species. The bark of such trees is also called wattle. See also Savanna wattle, under Savanna.
Wattle
To bind with twigs.
Wattle
To twist or interweave, one with another, as twigs; to form a network with; to plat; as, to wattle branches.
Wattle
To form, by interweaving or platting twigs.
The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes.
Wattle
A fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards
Wattle
Framework consisting of stakes interwoven with branches to form a fence
Wattle
Build of or with wattle
Wattle
Interlace to form wattle
Common Curiosities
Can the size of a wattle affect a bird's attractiveness to mates?
Yes, in many species, a larger and more colorful wattle can increase a bird's attractiveness to potential mates.
Are snoods present in birds other than turkeys?
Yes, snoods are also found in some other birds, but they are most prominent and studied in turkeys.
How do snoods and wattles differ in their evolutionary significance?
Snoods are more specialized and primarily found in turkeys for mating displays, whereas wattles have a broader range of functions and evolutionary significance across various bird species.
What is the primary function of a turkey's snood?
The primary function of a turkey's snood is for gender and social signaling during mating displays and interactions.
What additional function do wattles serve besides mate attraction?
Wattles also help in thermoregulation, allowing birds to release excess body heat.
Are wattles always colorful?
The color of wattles varies widely among species; some are very colorful, while others are more subdued, depending on their role and the bird's ecology.
How do birds with wattles regulate their body temperature?
Birds with wattles can regulate their body temperature through vasodilation, where blood flow to the wattle increases, helping to dissipate heat.
Do any non-avian animals have structures similar to snoods or wattles?
While non-avian animals may have similar fleshy protuberances for signaling, snoods and wattles are specific to birds.
What determines the color of a wattle?
The color of a wattle is determined by genetic factors, health, and species-specific traits.
Is the presence of a snood important for turkey health?
While not directly linked to general health, a robust snood is often a sign of good genetic health and virility in turkeys.
Do all turkeys have snoods?
Yes, all turkeys, both male and female, have snoods, though they are more prominent in males.
Are wattles present in both male and female birds?
Wattles are present in both genders in many species, though typically more pronounced in males.
How do environmental factors affect the appearance of snoods and wattles?
Environmental factors such as stress, diet, and overall health can affect the size and color of both snoods and wattles.
Can the size of a snood change over time?
Yes, the size of a snood can change depending on the turkey's age, health, and emotional state.
How do snoods and wattles contribute to a bird's mating success?
Both snoods and wattles can enhance a bird's mating success by signaling health, vitality, and genetic fitness to potential mates.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
