- Pope's nose redirects here. It may also refer to the licence plate light on early Volkswagen Beetles.
Pygostyle describes a skeletal condition in which the final few
caudal vertebrae are fused into a single
ossification, supporting the tail
feathers and musculature. In modern
birds, the
rectrices attach to these. The pygostyle is the main component of the
uropygium, a structure colloquially known as the
parson's nose,
pope's nose, or
sultan's nose. This is the fleshy protuberance visible at the posterior end of a
bird (most commonly a
chicken or
turkey) that has been dressed for
cooking. It has a swollen appearance because it also contains the
uropygial gland that produces
preen oil.