While we could go to the store to purchase it ourselves we would be depriving ourselves of the opportunity to spend time in nature foraging for it (and saving money!)
There are many lookalikes to Turkey Tail and before using it (or any foraged good), it is imperative that you understand Turkey Tail identification to confidently get a 100% positive ID!
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are a common sight in forests across North America. With their colorful, banded caps that resemble the feathers on a turkey’s tail, they are one of the most easily recognized mushrooms. But there are also several lookalike species, so it’s important to learn how to positively identify true turkey tails.
In this article, I’ll go over the key characteristics to look for when identifying turkey tail fungi, provide tips for distinguishing them from imposters, and give an overview of their edibility and uses.
What Are Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
Turkey tail mushrooms are a polypore species, meaning they have tiny pores on their underside instead of gills. They grow abundantly on dead logs and stumps, aiding in decomposition. Turkey tail is also used medicinally and can be prepared as a tea or tincture.
The turkey tail mushroom gets its common name from its appearance The upperside is composed of a series of colorful concentric bands, resembling the pattern on a turkey’s fanned-out tail Colors range from various shades of brown, orange, green, red, blue, purple, and more.
Distinguishing Features of True Turkey Tails
When foraging for turkey tail mushrooms, look for the following identifying features:
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Pores on the underside: The underside should be white and covered in tiny pores. These pores produce the mushrooms’ spores. All true polypores will have pores rather than gills.
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Multiple colors: Look for visible color zones following the contours of the cap. These can include shades of brown, orange, tan, blue, green, red, purple, and more.
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Velvety texture The cap should feel velvety or fuzzy to the touch This comes from the fine hairs covering it
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Thin and pliable: Fresh specimens will be leathery yet flexible. Older ones may be brittle.
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Taste extremely bitter (optional): Turkey tails have an intensely bitter taste. This can help confirm an ID but don’t taste any mushroom you aren’t 100% certain about.
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White margin: There should be a thin white or slightly lighter band along the outer edge of the cap.
Distinguishing Turkey Tail from Lookalikes
There are several species that resemble true turkey tail mushrooms. Here’s how to tell them apart:
False turkey tail (Stereum ostrea): The most common lookalike. It lacks pores on the underside, instead having a smooth, porous surface that’s often yellowish. Also note that false turkey tails often get taken over by green algae growing on their surface.
Violet toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme): Unlike turkey tail, this species has teeth instead of pores on its underside. It also lacks the concentrically arranged color banding, and often has a violet edge.
Gilled polypore (Lenzites betulina): As the name suggests, this lookalike has gills instead of pores. The caps also lack obvious color zones.
White-pored turkey tail (Trametes versicolor variety): A variant of true turkey tail that lacks color zones and has a white cap with just a thin darker edge. Check for pores and texture to confirm.
Edibility and Uses
Turkey tail mushrooms are edible, but quite tough and leathery. They are more commonly prepared as a medicinal tea or tincture. To make turkey tail tea, simmer pieces of the mushroom in hot water for at least 20 minutes.
Turkey tail is an antioxidant-rich medicinal mushroom used to support immune health. It also contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds. Traditional uses include treating infections, boosting immunity, and as an adjunct cancer therapy.
When collecting turkey tails for consumption, always be 100% certain of the identification. Never eat any wild mushroom before confirming it’s safe by consulting multiple sources. Also avoid collecting them from potentially contaminated areas.
Tips for Positively Identifying Turkey Tails:
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Check the underside for tiny pores rather than gills. Crust fungi like false turkey tails have smooth undersides.
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Look for visible color banding on the cap in shades of brown, orange, blue, purple, red, etc.
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The cap should feel velvety or suede-like. Rub your fingers over it.
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Fresh mushrooms will be pliable rather than brittle. Older specimens lose their flexibility.
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Smell for an earthy, mushroomy scent. False turkey tails often smell more like licorice.
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Take spore prints if unsure. Turkey tail spores are white.
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Note the environment. Turkey tails grow in overlapping shelf-like clusters on dead wood.
With practice, turkey tails can be reliably identified by their visible pores, fuzzy caps with concentric bands of color, flexibility when fresh, and growth on wood. Take time observing and handling mushrooms, and learn their key features. Proper identification is crucial for safe wild foraging. With the right knowledge, you’ll be finding turkey tails to enjoy in no time!
What do “tiny” pores look like?
Step 2 of the test states, to look for “tiny” pores. Technically speaking, this means that per 1 mm there would be about 3-8 pores across. In order to better see that I took a photo with my macro lens to actually show turkey tail pores against a ruler.
There are two photos, taken at the same distance. The first is of Turkey Tail pores showing how with the specimen captured it has about 6 pores/mm. The second is of a false turkey tail which has large pores, there are only 3/mm.
These are the most common lookalikes of Turkey Tail that you’re likely to run into:
- “False Turkey Tail” – Stereum ostrea group
- Violet Toothed Polypore – Trichaptum biforme
- Gilled Polypore – Trametes betula
The above list contains, in my opinion, the most common lookalikes to Turkey Tail that you are likely to encounter when scouting for it out in the woods! There are of course many more, but this will get you started on seeing a few major differences between Turkey Tail. If you are using the test, these will all be eliminated fairly quickly!
“False Turkey Tail” – Stereum ostrea group
The first and most common lookalike comes from the Stereum ostrea group ( I say group because it looks like classic Stereum ostrea is not actually found in North America, so I’ll let the mycologists just sort that one out – article here to learn more)
Starting with Step 1 of the test, we’ll look at the underside of our specimen to check that it actually has a pore surface. Immediately we’ll notice that Stereum has a completely smooth surface, being a “crust” fungi, no pores to speak of! So we’ll know that it isn’t Turkey Tail.
Here is another detail to look for. It definitely isn’t a hard and fast rule, but I find it to be true in most cases. Turkey Tail (especially if growing on the side of a log) will tend to have a more plane growth, whereas Stereum will almost always start to curve upward at the edges. This may save you a few trips across the forest floor to double check if a fungi in the distance is Turkey Tail or Stereum!
How to Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms ( and distinguish from false lookalikes )
FAQ
How do you identify a turkey tail?
The bands of colors on the cap make the “true” turkey tail easy to recognize. The margin is always lightest in color. Lookalikes: The false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea) is parchmentlike and has a smooth underside. The multicolor gill polypore (Lenzites betulina) has a gill-like underside.
Does turkey tail have any toxic look alikes?
Although there are some similar looking mushrooms, T. versicolor is easily distinguished by it’s porous underside. And reassuringly none of them appear to be toxic, many having potential benefits of their own.
What can turkey tails be confused with?
Possible Confusion
Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum) has no visible pores at all, its underneath is smooth and yellow, while false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea) has smooth, reddish brown to reddish buff underneath, and its cap is less hairy (tomentose) than hairy curtain crust’s.
How do you know if a turkey tail is real?
Real turkey tail has a flexible and thin body. Unlike many other crust or bracket fungi, you can bend it easily. It usually has subtle ridges along its body and edges where it fans out, so the surface can feel bumpy. However, it will also feel soft to the touch. The cap is covered with fine hairs that give it a nice, velvety finish.
What are the health benefits of turkey tail mushrooms?
Turkey tail is a medicinal mushroom. It has many health benefits. Turkey tail contains huge variety of anti-oxidants. It has powerful anti-oxidants which boosts the immunity. It also help to treat the cancer. But few people may be allergic to mushrooms. They should avoid this variety of turkey tail mushroom as well.
What does a false turkey tail look like?
The False Turkey tail is not a polypore like the True Turkey tail so it does not have pores on the underside. It is a shelf like bracket looking mushroom similar to the True Turkey tail. This one is a crust fungus. When you fist see this mushroom you may think it looks like a paint stain on the mood when it is actually a mushroom.
Does turkey tail have a positive ID?
There are many lookalikes to Turkey Tail and before using it (or any foraged good), it is imperative that you understand Turkey Tail identification to confidently get a 100% positive ID! Luckily for us Turkey Tail identification is not a difficult task if you know what to look for.
What is the difference between a fake turkey tail and real turkey tail?
The difference between a real turkey tail mushroom and a false turkey tail lies underneath the mushroom cap. Real turkey tail mushrooms have small pores on the underside, while false turkey tail has a smooth underside with no pores. False turkey tail is not considered toxic.
How do you identify turkey tail mushrooms?
Here is a complete guide on how to identify true turkey tail mushrooms and distinguish them from lookalikes. What Are Turkey Tail Mushrooms? Turkey tail mushrooms, whose scientific name is Trametes versicolor, are a polypore type of fungi that grow predominantly on dead deciduous trees and logs.