Wild Turkeys One tom and four hens grazing. It was late January, when I jumped out of the car to photograph a large flock of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). About 35 adult birds scratched and pecked at the grass between the road and a woodsy area. Then they crossed the road in front of my pulled-over car, heading into the forest on the other side. These birds were already beginning their courtship rituals. “Tom” fluffing his feathers. Fanning his tail, dragging wing tips on the ground. Struting in front of females with tail fanned. Note the “beard” sticking out from his chest. Tom turning around. After the flock crossed the road, another tom puffed up and the two strutted around as the entire group drifted into the forest. Two strutting toms. Competing for the hens’ attention. The turkey’s unfeathered head has several distinctive features. The snood is the flap of skin that hangs down over the bill. It changes in color, size, and shape based on the bird’s mood and activities. The wattle is a skin flap reaching from the beak to the neck. Those bumps of flesh covering the necks and heads are called caruncles. Snood, wattle and caruncles are deeply colored during strutting behavior. Later that day, I spotted another small flock of wild turkeys. This was composed entirely of juvenile males, called jakes. Note that they each have a small beard. Click on any image above to enlarge or start slideshow. HERE’S A BIT OF TURKEY TRIVIA … If Benjamin Franklin had his way, the wild turkey would have been chosen as the National Bird. He wrote in 1784: For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him….. The Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and … a true original Native of America … He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on. Check these other posts about bald birds… Rooftop Eagle >>Dumpster Divers >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation Two Woodpeckers and a SapsuckerNight Stalker of the Boardwalk