How to Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms ( and distinguish from false lookalikes )

Let's learn how to identify, Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor), which has quickly become one of the most popular consumer mushrooms on the market! 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. Before using it, it is imperative to be able to make a 100% positive ID. This video is an overview of the Totally True Turkey Tail Test from MushroomExpert.com (www.mushroomexpert.com/tramet...) which we'll use for Turkey Tail identification.
After going through the test we also compare Turkey Tail with a few common lookalikes side-by-side.
Download your FREE Printable Totally True Turkey Tail Guide here - feralforaging.com/get-turkey-...
You can also visit our sponsor, Foraged, to support foragers and purchase wildcrafted Turkey Tail - foraged.market/
Credit to-
vtstateparks.blogspot.com/2017...
and
u/alex2997 for the winter turkey tail photos!
🌲 Hope you find the video on How to Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms helpful. Be Feral and Keep Foraging!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Premise
0:29 - Introduction
1:34 - Where and When Turkey Tail Can Be Found
2:14 - Totally True Turkey Tail Test
2:48 - Step 1, Pore Surface
3:03 - Step 2, Pores are Tiny
3:35 - Step 3, Fuzzy/Velvety Cap
3:46 - Step 4, Vibrant/Colorful
3:56 - Step 5, Distinct Coloration Zones
4:16 - Step 6, Thin & Flexible When Fresh
4:31 - Additional Detail, Average Size
4:55 - Bonus Tip, White Cap Margin
5:08 - Test Summary
5:33 - Sponsor, Foraged
6:29 - Lookalikes, "False Turkey Tail"
7:24 - Lookalikes, Violet Toothed Polypore
8:24 - Lookalikes, Gilled Polypore
9:19 - Conclusion
#turkeytail #mushrooms #foraging
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[@protruth100]

This is the best video I've seen on Turkey Tail identification! Good job Jesse! So many are confusing them with those others, even with Reishi. Now I have a place to refer them to. :)

[@FeralForaging]

Thank you so much, Mona! This means a lot. :)

[@courtney8911]

Second that

[@thesuicidewalrus415]

I agree.

[@hospitallerknight6352]

You are making one of the best types of identify videos, the only better option is to actually identify it outside, so this says a lot! Looking forwrd to more mushroom id vids😊

[@sonofabear]

Great video! My products accidentally got a feature at 5:39 lol Your videos getting better and better

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks! Happy your product got featured. :D

[@SaxonRanger94]

Thankyou! I almost made tea with false turkey tail, saw there were no pores so I decided to investigate more and found this video👍🏼

[@earthisflat]

Ah yes trametes versicolor, that was actually the first mushroom I foraged, made it into a really pleasant tea 😊

[@websiteckron8591]

This is by far the best video about turkey tail mushrooms I have found! Thank you! I love specific the well done images, superb footage and perfect text and information.

[@danplantman62]

I went out today and gathered some true turkey tails and found all the look a likes and took pictures of each one on the front and back .Time to make a little tea!

[@dcorgard]

I'm sure many would like more videos on other mushrooms, e.g. - Chanterelles (Cantharellus species), Black Trumpets (Craterellus species), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus species), Shrimp of the woods (Aborted Entoloma), Honey Mushrooms (Armillaria species), Hedgehogs (Hydnum species), Lacterius species ("Milk mushrooms"), Lobster (Hypomyces lactifluorum), Boletes (Boletus species), Chicken Fat Mushrooms (Suillus species, esp. S. americanus), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Shaggy Manes (Coprinus comatus), Oysters (Pleurotus species), Lion's Mane (Hericium species), Beefsteak Mushrooms (Fistulina hepatica), Blewits, etc.... and also could talk about how you can eat things such as 'false morels' (Gyromitra species) if you prepare them correctly (same thing works for many types of mushrooms usually not considered as edible in the Western world). For foraged plants, it'd be nice to see: Spring Beauty, Ostrich Fern, Wild Leeks, Garlic Mustard, Rubus species, Acer species syrups (other than sugar maple, e.g. - box elder, silver maple, etc.), Cob nuts ("Hazelnuts"), Asparagus, River or Black Birch (Wintergreen Oil!), Willow, Wild grapes, Wild strawberries, Wild parsnips (here need to mention dangerous look-a-likes & talk about phytophotodermatitis dangers!), Watercress, Wormwood, etc., etc.. EDIT: Spelling & Additions.

[@MrJDOaktown]

By far the best video on Trametes versicolor & how to tell its lookalikes. Thank you!

[@FeralForaging]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate the kind words. :)

[@jahmic]

Thank you! This was by far the most helpful identification video that I have come across for this species. I have struggled to positively identify turkey tail on my property. Turns out I have turkey tail, stereum ostrea, and violet-toothed polypore on my property...so thankful that I can finally tell them apart and start harvesting next season.

[@FeralForaging]

Glad it helped!

[@stevestrawley9897]

Excellent video. My fiancėe has been diagnosed with cancer twice. I am looking to grow them and have been studying up on it. Your video is clear and concise. I am sure we have spotted them on some of our nature hikes after watching this. Going to try and grow, anyway, but will be searching soon the next time we hike. Thanks.

[@JL-mn9on]

i've watched several diff of these videos tonight and this one was by far the best and most informative. ty so much!

[@FeralForaging]

Awesome, thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@jeffphelps6562]

Side by side comparison was excellent, thank you!

[@FeralForaging]

Glad it helped!

[@trixi_malone5793]

Thank you so much!!! What a great source of information! I’ve been searching for YEARS for an excellent Turkey Tail ID as well as how to tell them apart from look a likes. Your video was very straight forward and easy to understand.

[@lilianparle4822]

Get on with charlesmyco_ He will guide you on how to take them.

[@lilianparle4822]

He's on instagram.

[@belkokot]

This is awesome, thank you so much! I'm currently diving into the shroom world and foraging overall. Been looking for good videos on the topic and feel extremely lucky to have found yours right away. Guess it's a sign I chose a right direction 👩‍🌾 Oh and I love your style, felt like hanging out with a good friend 🙃

[@FeralForaging]

Glad it was helpful and you liked it! :D

[@Cafeinacoli]

i just found some totally true turkey tail on my yard and this video was perfect! thank you :)

[@FeralForaging]

Glad it helped!

[@hulagirlhands]

Great post!! I can't wait to forage for Turkey tails🦃

[@FeralForaging]

Thank you! Best of luck hunting for them. :D

[@gatheringwithin]

Quality is always better than quantity. Great job! Thanks

[@FeralForaging]

You bet!

[@summerbreeze1955]

Super description thank you x

[@ID-rs9wv]

I love it, thank you so much for this valuable info.. I'm loving in the UK and I've found a lookalike but a very renounced yellow colour, same structure/texture and grows on dead wood too.

[@TREX3151]

Headed tomorrow. Awesome video!

[@FeralForaging]

Thank you! Happy foraging. :)

[@rivergirlfishinfor24]

Thank you!! Excellent description! 🧡🙌🏻🍄‍🟫

[@LilianaLees]

Best video I have found ❤ Thank you

[@GypsyBrokenwings]

Great video. My son has been a turkey tail forager for years.

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks, and that’s awesome!

[@FeralForaging]

Have you identified Turkey Tail before? What is your favorite detail? Let us know! Don't forget, you can download the photographic Totally True Turkey Tail Test via this link! - feralforaging.com/get-turkey-tail-test/

[@jett888]

Thank you do m7ch- an incredible vidro for staying safe- But there is no " like" pption- only a dislike - thumbsdown- I took a screen shot

[@larryeddings3185]

New subscriber. Excellent video on correctly identifying Turkey Tail.

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks! Happy to have earned your sub. :D

[@watchfuleagle4038]

Great information, thank you.

[@FeralForaging]

You are very welcome!

[@lr1732]

You are fantastic. Keep it up. Very good information.

[@coffeebeforemascara]

Thank you ! This is very helpful

[@FeralForaging]

I'm glad to hear it!

[@mariaellers8026]

Awesome thank you this is perfect.

[@rulistening7777]

I have located True TT that were quite large. Very beautiful distinct brown, gold and tan tones on fan side. White banded edge. Very white and smooth on the underside. Tight pours. 2-3 inches across. And 1/8-- 1/4 inch thick . The downed tree was covered in hundreds of them . I harvested about 1/2. And used them. When I went back Two years later, I expected the tree to have regrown a new flush. It had not.

[@hhiikkii]

Super duper helpful video! Subscribed!!

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks for the sub!

[@laylayclippy5227]

Off out now to use the free identification download, many thanks 🙏

[@FeralForaging]

You are very welcome!

[@twhobie]

Thank you very much!

[@fydon]

Thanks a million for your teaching

[@FeralForaging]

You are very welcome!

[@OmyamO]

Thank you very much for this very accurate video. Saving lives!

[@FeralForaging]

You're very welcome!

[@GraemeSmith-kd5eb]

No turkey tail lookalikes are poisonous...

[@BosomBuddyCreations]

Thank you so much for this!

[@jordonmoore5177]

Awesome video man! Turns out I have two different kinds of False Turkey Tails in the woods behind my house. One is stereum ostrea. The other I'm not sure about, but it has gills and is nowhere near as vibrant. My google camera led me astray! I almost made False Turkey Tail tea!

[@carmenreyes4669]

Great video 👌Thank you

[@ElectricUAM]

Awesome great video. Great examples and I can finally now go out and suss out these plentiful babies around here.

[@FeralForaging]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ElectricUAM]

​@@FeralForagingsure was. I took a bunch of pictures of what I thought are Turkey Tails and posted them on iNaturalist. Next, steps is to prepare them. Seriously going into Mycology. Thanks, man!

[@amyvoelker5741]

So helpful! Thank you so much!

[@FeralForaging]

You are so welcome!

[@smokymountainflightinstruc9904]

Very helpful, thank you so much.

[@FeralForaging]

You're very welcome!

[@86PKG]

Artist Conk! Those babies are much thicker like a whole clam rather than flat. The bottoms are white, but when you bruise them, it turns brown. People would draw on them or write messages and send them. They are also very hard like cork wood. They are not turkey tails. However, they are related to Reishi and make good tea!

[@lilacmoonbeam2988]

This is a great video! I'm looking for foraging classes in my area and if I can find one I hope that I can run through this test with the instructor!

[@FeralForaging]

Glad you liked it!

[@debbiehall6616]

Thank you

[@peacefulscrimp5183]

Great video 👍

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks!

[@laralula7732]

Very very good!!!! Thank you

[@FeralForaging]

You are very welcome!

[@Nitrotix1]

Saw a bunch that I suspected were Turkey Tail and I have to go back and double check. They grew in a similar fashion across the fallen log but it seems like one the 'false' kinds you talked about. Hoepfully I am proven wrong and can harvest some true Turkey Tail! Thanks for the video! 🙂

[@FeralForaging]

You are very welcome! Good luck and let us know what you find. :D

[@DeniseHuman]

New sub...Very informative!

[@FeralForaging]

Happy to have earned your sub! :D

[@treelyiness5549]

Wow above and beyond thank you for sharing the knowledge so clearly I’m using the video for sculpting purposes I’m going to sculpt turkey tails on to the mold of a turtle shell I painted to be albino with real crystals poking out of the shell!

[@FeralForaging]

What a cool idea!

[@DeeDee1973]

Great video

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks!

[@Allyourbase1990]

We've had a warm and wet winter in GA I'm going to see if 8 can find some tomorrow

[@FeralForaging]

Happy hunting!

[@janetsecchi5070]

Recommend from stoneage guy chanel. Thank-you to both.Great video!

[@dr.z3426]

Great info

[@FeralForaging]

thanks!

[@mariajoseleoni5360]

Thank you soo much!!!!

[@FeralForaging]

you are very welcome!

[@disgruntledmanlet]

Think I just found some thanks to this Video!

[@FeralForaging]

Glad I could help!

[@stillmindwellness4962]

Hi thanks for the informative video! do you know the best harvesting time for turkey tail? i live in powell river BC cananda !

[@jimmyb207]

I have found some Turkey Tail on my property. It passes the test in flying colors. Question: How do I store it? How do I prepare it for consumption for medicinal use? Thank you! Great video.

[@cotch40]

Could you tell me the one that you used for measuring comparisons? This is what’s growing here …. I’d love to know what it’s called. Thank you.

[@websiteckron8591]

Today I found in the wood a perfect turkey tail on a log. It meets all criteria. On the top of the mushrooms I found white fluffy stuff. Can this be mycelium? Can I still harvest those mushrooms covered with white stuff?

[@flyandshy00]

There is Trametes versicolor, I think it grows outside my home.

[@quietrestingplaces9172]

Thanks! This is great. I think I could do it. Would be very interested to see the rest of the acorn videos

[@FeralForaging]

Yes, me too! I apologize for the wait on that series. I may not finish it in time this year. :( a bit busy with a wedding coming up!

[@lilacmoonbeam2988]

@@FeralForaging congratulations on your wedding! 🎉

[@FeralForaging]

@@lilacmoonbeam2988 Thank you so much! :)

[@FeralForaging]

Hey! Part 3 is now in the final edits stage. Look out for it early next week!

[@quietrestingplaces9172]

@@FeralForaging excellent!! Can't wait :)

[@jb200008]

I can’t find one video talking about the age of turkey tail. When is it too old to harvest and use in tinctures?

[@jdcmasonryllc]

I have seen many turkey tails, but I found some that meet all six requirements except for the fact that they are a bit thicker. What would that be?

[@inesines891]

So i got out an dthougt i found some, they are little bit older cause the have dicoloration on the undersite but they do have all the identifications right expect the white ring aroind t he edge. are they still right or should i throw them away?

[@lfakroll]

I thought i found a bunch of turkey tail but later found out it was Trametes ochracea.. maybe you don't have that where you live? I think it looks very similar, but more brown on top and thicker.

[@heartofdixieprepping4797]

Great video! Mine meet all 6 of the test but do the colors or shades vary in the Turkey Tail? Such as one area or another... Mine does have the white on edges. The back side is also very white. Mine does not look like any of the look alikes. I didn't realize it had pores until I put it under a light and I had to squint to see them. It indeed does and they are so tiny. I live in a Woody area and have a downed tree and it has what I believe to be turkey tail. I just second guess myself. I'm so new to forging. Thank you.

[@FeralForaging]

Great question. The answer is, yes! Turkey Tail comes in all kinds of color variations, hence the scientific name Trametes *versicolor*

[@heartofdixieprepping4797]

@@FeralForaging Thank you so much. I went and got a few more. I could bend them. No stiffness. I love how soft they feel. It's like velvet. I'm a new sub. Glad I found you.

[@FeralForaging]

Happy to have earned your sub and for your foraging success!

[@meloearth]

How to clean mushrooms before cooking? Can turkey tail be eaten raw?

[@donovandekock5565]

yip it grows in south africa aswell

[@chucksix6231]

The one I found passed every test but I question the thickness. The one I just found has a thick brown fibrous base about 1/4 in. thick. Can you tell me if it's useable?

[@FeralForaging]

I’m afraid I can’t provide positive ID online. Does it have a thickness of about 1/4in throughout? In that case it’s definitely not turkey tail.

[@johanverm90]

Difficult to buy it over here . Thanks for the tutorial.They sell it online but only for animals so ,weird ..🤨

[@RelapsingYogi]

Are any of the turkey tail lookalikes poisonous?

[@matchalee8806]

This grew In my garden it but it’s harder to identify due to the heavy rain it became black BUT it still has the white border at the end it completes every test as it still has some vibrancy and velvet color should I trust it?

[@FeralForaging]

I wouldn't ever use an old mushroom for positive ID, plus, I'm not sure it would be viable in that condition anyway.

[@user-ow5si9zi8h]

We have a lot of these mushrooms, do you need them？

[@EveryDayAmityShay]

I have Turkey tail🎉

[@Ilijespeters]

There are 3 species of turkey tail. Is the trametes ochracea also useble for thee or only the trametes versicolor?

[@FeralForaging]

I'm not certain.

[@pablobernal2442]

Can I still use the old ones for extract

[@FeralForaging]

Old like dry? Or old like limp/decaying? I would use something that is dry, but not going bad.

[@lauraginsberg-peltz1395]

And is one of the look-alikes does it meet all of the criteria but it is a little thicker than the thinner turkey tail? Or is there a true turkey tail? That is also a little bit thicker if it meets all the other criteria?

[@erikaangel2450]

Vai telegram as

[@erikaangel2450]

HUNTTYZ

[@danielxlewisdl]

Mine has met every specification, but on the bonus tip where you said they have the white margin they dont have this. Is it still a turkey tail? It looks the same colour as the gilled polypore but i looked with a microscope and it has the turkey tail pores.

[@FeralForaging]

I think I mentioned that for the bonus tip, this is often the case, but not every single time. It's possible that they wouldn't have a white margin.

[@ktownc936]

I've got the same thing. Very little to no white margin also a very sweet smell to them, is this turkey tail.

[@ech9817]

If it's dried and beige on the underside, is it unsafe to eat? Also, the ones I found didn't have white on the outer edge, was pale on the tops but still super varied in color and they almost entirely formed somewhat cone-shaped. Like the edges were always slightly or sometimes very much higher than the middle if you held it in your palm. Other than that, it fit the description to a T Edit: They look exactly like the ones at 2:06. Is that a picture of turkeytail or one of its lookalikes?

[@FeralForaging]

2:06 is Turkey Tail, yes! In terms of edibility, I wouldn't eat Turkey Tail no matter what condition I found it in. It's very tough and leathery!

[@ech9817]

@@FeralForaging Thanks for letting me know! What IS its purpose, if not to be eaten, though? I've seen people make it into tea to boost the immune system. Is this all it can be used for?

[@ryanbright3078]

@@ech9817 it is the most studied and among the most beneficial medicinal mushrooms. It is a recognized cancer medicine in the east. It has known preventative anti cancer properties. It has anti-inflammatory properties (which could benefit even things like ADD.) Eastern medicine prescribes it for low energy/lethargy, and while I dont know much about the chakras or anything like that, I'm not arrogant enough to discredit thousands of years of trial and error.

[@ech9817]

@@ryanbright3078 Are all of these effects applied through the tea? Or does it have to be made into something else?

[@jacobbatchelor7877]

@@ryanbright3078 I know a lot about "the chakras and anything like that" and there's no link mate you're getting two very different fields mixed up due to not knowing much about either of them. Philosophy/psychology and medicine. Turkey tail does 100% have medicinal benefits, pretty much every compound in this universe does in some minute way. How effective is it? Is it worth using human resources on compared to other chemicals? No one knows yet there's not been any actual "trial and error" done besides a couple clinical trials in Japan that were way too loosey goosey for anyone except the arrogant to form an opinion from.

[@lyndafarouk9533]

I have a mushroom growing from my patio concrete but cannot identify how do i send to you ?

[@FeralForaging]

I would recommend using something the reddit for getting a direction on an ID. I get a lot of ID requests, but I cannot confirm ID of specimens online.

[@AndrewPolakow]

Are those other mushrooms poisonous?

[@zappasoul]

Please tell me... how can one distinguish a real Turkey tail from an OCHRE BRACKET?

[@FeralForaging]

Pore size looks different between the two

[@charronfamilyconnect]

Are there any poisonous look alikes to Turkey Tail? Thanks!

[@FeralForaging]

Not to me, but I can’t say for certain what someone would or wouldn’t put close to Turkey Tail

[@nancyfahey7518]

are these look-a-likes poisonous or can I make a tea out of them also?

[@FeralForaging]

I don't know of any of the other fungi mentioned here to be explicitly poisonous, but I've never used them before nor do I know of anyone who uses them. I personally wouldn't.

[@nora-_-]

what about a thin white edge?

[@FeralForaging]

It's a good indicator of Turkey Tail, but the other characteristics are needed to confirm.

[@jasonholly7346]

My mushroom meets all the tests but isn't white around the edge

[@FeralForaging]

I think I made a small mistake there. meant to say that it very often has a white margin, but not 100% of the time.

[@jamesd4923]

👍👍💓

[@FeralForaging]

😄

[@dennismayer4936]

I didn't realize turkey tail had look alikes.

[@jett888]

WHY am i only seeing a " dislike" option on your video??? KZbin is disqusting- They don't want people to have the tools to forage and survive whats coming

[@walkertongdee]

I have cancer and can't afford processed capsules, foraging is not an option. I can get the whole mushroom dried, but I don't know what to do with it or how to dose. Then there is the storage problem they will spoil. I can get the whole mushroom dried, but I don't know what to do with it or how to dose. Everyone keeps secrets it's a closed community with no good open source info, those in the know looking to cash in.

[@nicholasbabcock9384]

Ive you can get the dried mushroom, its fairly easy to preserve and process for use. Usual daily doseage is .1 to .5 grams. You can pulverize in food processor or coffee grinder.

[@MartianArk]

We'd like to invite you to Twitter so we can give you comradery and follow you.

[@FeralForaging]

I have one! twitter.com/feralforaging :D