It also has a prominent tuft of bristles projecting downwards from its chest. The male will raise its tail feathers to form a vertical fan shape when it is courting the female. It also does this when as a show of aggressive display towards its enemies. As it grows older, it also gets more aggressive. The males get into fights among themselves for access to the hens or females.
Male turkeys are also more colorful than the females, like most birds.
Their plumage comes in a variety of bronze, green or reddish colors. The chest feather on the males are coarse. Wild turkeys can fly. However, commercially bred turkeys are usually white. Their colors have been purposely bred out because the pigment from the feathers would discolor the turkey's skin during dressing.