Friday, March 25, 2011

Eastern Wild Turkey Gobblers

There are conflicting opinions as to whether the Eastern Wild Turkey is a beautiful or ugly bird, but it is so highly regarded as a game species in Pennsylvania that it is classified as a big game animal and is hunted in both spring and fall seasons (males only are legal in the spring).

Alert Gobbler

While the head may have a somewhat reptilian appearance, which is especially noticeable when the bird is feeding or checking for danger, this is offset by the overall stunning beauty of the gobblers when they strut and spread their tail fans during the courtship display, and a mature gobbler standing in bright sunlight is beautiful at any time, as the rays of the sun make his plumage come alive, while  it looks drab under poor lighting conditions.

Gobbler Struts In Early Morning
I used to think that turkeys only strutted and gobbled in the spring--especially in April, but have found that it can happen at any time of year, although it is much more prevalent during the mating  season in late winter and spring, but as far as I know the actual courtship display only occurs in late winter or spring.  At this time the male bird gobbles, fans his tail, struts, and walks in circles with his head often rapidly changing hues.  I have seen them go from red, to white and all shades between in just a few seconds.

Gobbler Struts And Drags Wings On Ground
I was born in 1950, but never saw a turkey until sometime in the mid-1960s.  They were another species that one only heard about, such as bears, eagles, and river otters, although some old time dedicated turkey hunters did continue to hunt them and be able to find them.  As mentioned, this changed  in the 1960s, at least in Fulton County, and their was a substantial turkey population by the early 1970s, which has continued to this day.

Originally posted at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill

8 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

Inspite of their less than beautiful faces,they really are quite attractive.All those iridescent colors more than make up for the face. :)

Anonymous said...

Nice pictures of the turkeys!

PaWingers said...

I like all of these images but the third one is my favorite. Awesome birds but not the cutest critter around.

Unknown said...

Willard
Great photos and god commentary.

Jim

V.L. Locey said...

Great images Willard! I think there is nothing that compares to the beauty of a gobbler in full strut on a warm spring day.

Anonymous said...

I hope other wild animals will make a comeback too. There were bison in your woods at one time - any plans on reintroducing them? Short, smaller, black and then called "Wood Bison."

These are beautiful photographs, Willard.

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

i love turkeys! they are beautiful in my opinion. unfortunately i have not seen the usual flock (or whatever their group term is) this spring, which worries me...i do hope they are safe and sound from harm. love your pics as always!

Les Barr said...

Even though I have hunted here in PA for a number of years, I have never seen a Wild Turkey like the ones you have featured here. I've heard them in the woods and seen them from a distance, but never really got to see the Male doing his strut for the Hen. Nice photo's of them.