turkey hunting

had a really good hunt over the weekend. got 3 long beards!

Did you take these in Californnia? (It this a Merriam species?)
Very nice birds, sharp pictures!
Tom

I really like the gobbler 'display' shots here Terry.

Nice sharp colourful pictures. These really are very impressive birds and great to see the genuine article living wild and free. Thanks for showing.

I really like the second shot...the displaying, the grasses, the flowers...

Do they have any idea what the purpose of that thing that hands down below his neck is?

Great shots!

thanks so much to everyone for the kind words!!!

superdiver, are you talking about the beard? the part that looks like a tassel?

Nice shots, Terry.
I like the second one best, but the others are nice as well.

Beautiful Shots and well captured action

terryger wrote in post #3095706
superdiver, are you talking about the beard? the part that looks like a tassel?

Yeah...the beard

These are nice shots, ooops, just drooled on the keyboard.

I want to know what the hell that horn thing is on their heads. Just too weird.

superdiver wrote in post #3092193
Do they have any idea what the purpose of that thing that hands down below his neck is?

Superdiver, generally only the male of the species have the beards. Although, I've read that as many as 4% of the hens can have a beard present, as well. In hand the beard feels like long strands of hair...but actually it is feathers.

the turkey muuch like other birds is a very visual creature. . they use their eyes extremely well and have a field of vision of 270 degrees due to their eyes being set on each side of their head.

when they are in the strut(breeding season) they can call females from miles around with their colorful dispalys. if you look closely at their individual heads in these shots you will notice they are different shades and patterns of red, blue and white. these colors will change from minute to minute to minute as the tom trys to out do the other toms and win the heart of the ladies.

turkeys hens will breed every day while nesting. breed once and go lay an egg, come back and repeat until her nest is full. sometimes if the nest is destroyed she will re nest a second time.

the biggest best and handsomest tom will get the most attention from the ladies.

sound familar?

the horn, wattles and caruncles (loose skin under neck on face ) and the beard are all signs of a mature tom.

jakes(young tom ) have tiny beards only and inch to 4-5 inches long as well as shoter tailfeathers on each side of their fan.

as was mentioned some hens also have beards. a big tom can have as many as 6-9beards but usually just one. the thicker and longer is a mark of a very powerful mature bird.

along with being a symbol for the girls it tends to hang down and out from his cheast when he is not in strut and it wanrns others from a distance that he is not to be trifled with.

canon loader, i'll bet the turkeys wonder the same thing about that "horn" in the middle of your face you call a nose. i'll bet its too wierd for them

Excellent hunt...nothing like watching a big tom trying to impress the ladies...makes for a great show.

Excellent series. Very well done.