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| Wild Turkey in Ramsey Canyon, Arizona 9-26-2013 |
Wild Turkeys are found in most of the lower 48 states. I have seen them in almost every state I have birded in. I find them to be interesting birds, since they were not common when I was younger. I first remember seeing Wild Turkeys alongside the highway in Vermont back in the late 1980's. Back then it was a rare sight to see them and I was so thrilled. Later, when I lived in Maine I was surprised to have them as yardbirds, and even more surprised when I saw the flock fly to the top of a crabapple tree and devour every apple left in the crown. Turkeys are such large birds that they don't appear to be good flyers, but they are. Though I have never hunted them, I have heard they are a wise and wary prey and difficult to shoot. Benjamin Franklin admired them so much that he proposed the Wild Turkey as a symbol of our nation. As we all know, the Bald Eagle won that race, but I propose you take another look at this colorful and magnificent bird. It reminds me of a dinosaur when seen up close, and it also reminds me of everything wild!
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| Wild Turkey in Madera Canyon Arizona 1-9-2009 |
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| I love the fuzzy head on this female seen in Madera Canyon in 2009 |
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| Wild Turkeys in Spring in Colchester, Connecticut 3-8-2012 |
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| Hen with poults seen in Mercer, Maine 5-26-2012 |
Fun Fact: Male turkeys are called "Toms," young males are called "jakes," females are called "hens," and newly hatched turkeys are called, "poults!"
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| Wild Turkeys on a misty morning in Colchester, CT 9-29-2011 |
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| Wild Turkeys in Turner, ME 1-7-2012 |
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| Wild Turkeys foraging in the woods and fields of Turner, Maine 1-7-2012 |
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| Wild Turkey on Plum Island, Massachusetts 1-10-2012 |
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| Turkey Tail Plum Island 1-10-2012 |
Happy Thanksgiving!
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| Wild Turkey in Madera Canyon 3-12-2013 |
I hadn't realised they were so relatively common, so now hope I might manage to see one in the wild early next year. The colours are really intricate when I look at the lowest image, and I do like that group in Colchester.
ReplyDeleteHappy wanderer, each photo has its own mood and I like to see who likes what! Thanks for your comment!
DeleteFun post. Turkeys populations are growing and growing here in Cincy. I love coming across them in the woods. You have great photos here.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I am so glad to hear that! It's nice to see them around!
DeleteGosto muito de perús e penso arranjar um casal cá para casa. Dizem que as peruas são óptimas mães. Só me recordo destes animais por aqui quando ainda era uma criança.
ReplyDeleteBelas fotos e interessantes! beijos,lindo fim de semana,chica
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the little ones are called poults. And those are the smallest I've ever seen. Good catch.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon. It was a wonderful surprise for me as well!
DeleteTurkeys are great and I shall not be having any for Thanksgiving dinner this year!
ReplyDeleteMary, really? So what will you be having instead?
DeleteThey are amazing creatures Kathie. The only Turkeys we have here are reared on Turkey Farms for selling in the shops especially at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAh, Roy, well, you well know we Americans feature them for dinner on Thanksgiving whether the Native Americans and the Pilgrims ate them or not. It's nice to see the wild turkeys though. The Wikipedia article is pretty interesting with its quote from the letter Benjamin Franklin wrote extolling the virtues of the wild turkey!
DeleteI love seeing them in the wild as well. They really have made a great comeback. And I must admit that I so do love eating them:)
ReplyDeleteI know I'm a birder and all....but still......domestic turkey tastes great.
DeleteThanksgiving is just around the corner...run turkeys run...run and hide.
ReplyDeleteNice post and photos, Kathie!
Great article, Kathie! But you know that Franklin never "proposed the turkey as the national bird." That passage in a private letter to his daughter is humorous.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a joy to see the turkey group of eight living on our country property. They fly up into the same large pine trees to roost every night. Wonderful post, filled with super photographs, Kathie! I especially love the hen with her tiny poults and misty morning images.
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