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Project Noah Nature School
Meleagris gallopavo
Adult male turkeys, called "gobblers," are very large birds often weighing over 25 lbs. in our area. The males have dark iridescent body feathers that may be russet, green, brown, and black depending upon the quality of the light; wings are lighter and striped. Males have bare skin on their heads that change color depending upon their state of mind. Males also have a beard of specialized bristly feathers that protrudes from their breast. Females are smaller, have darker, duller heads and bodies and typically no beard.
Turkeys range across the US and Mexico in habitat ranging from well-watered deciduous forest, to arid open parklands and wooded river bottoms.
Spotted on Sep 6, 2012
Submitted on Sep 10, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks Laura. Two families of turkeys have been using our backyard--and occasionally our front yard--all summer. We've also had a flock of four gobblers using our yard as well. I had not slept well the night before and I was already up and working as the sun peeked over the horizon and the turkeys entered the backyard--a very pretty scene.
He's a handsome fellow! Love the photo, the lighting is fantastic. Fab spotting as usual, Gordon.