The wild turkey is an amazing bird with raptor-like feet, a coarse, dangling beard on its chest, and a gobble that can challenge anything, even car alarms. Even though some attention has already been paid to some of these, none of them may be as fascinating as the bird’s infamously ugly head’s constantly shifting color.
The phrase “turkey face” conjures up a variety of images from the comical expressions of domesticated turkeys to the majestic profiles of wild toms. But beyond the familiar Thanksgiving centerpiece the world of turkey faces is surprisingly diverse and captivating.
A Gallery of Gobblers:
- Domestic Delight: The quintessential turkey face we know and love is that of the domesticated turkey. These birds, bred for their meat and plumage, often sport a plump, wattled neck and a curious, inquisitive gaze. Their eyes, often bright and alert, seem to hold a hint of mischief.
- Wild Wonders: Wild turkeys, on the other hand, exhibit a more rugged and regal appearance. The males, or toms, boast iridescent plumage and a striking wattle that hangs from their beaks. Their eyes, sharp and watchful, reflect the alertness of a creature constantly on the lookout for predators.
- Global Gobblers: Turkey species are found across the globe, each with its unique facial features. The ocellated turkey of Central America, for example, has a distinctive blue skin around its eyes, while the Himalayan snowcock boasts a vibrant red wattle and a striking black beak.
Beyond the Feathers:
- The Art of Expression: Turkey faces are not just about feathers and wattles. Their expressions can be surprisingly nuanced, conveying a range of emotions from curiosity and contentment to alarm and aggression. A furrowed brow, a puffed-up wattle, or a wide-eyed stare can all tell a story about the turkey’s state of mind.
- A Window into the Wild: Observing turkey faces can provide insights into their behavior and social interactions. A dominant tom might puff up his wattle and strut with a confident swagger, while a submissive bird might lower its head and avoid eye contact.
- A Celebration of Diversity: The sheer variety of turkey faces is a testament to the incredible diversity of the natural world. From the comical to the majestic, each turkey face tells a unique story about the species and its individual journey.
The next time you encounter a turkey, take a moment to appreciate the fascinating world of turkey faces. These expressive creatures, with their unique features and captivating expressions, offer a glimpse into the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom.
What the Colours Mean
Although they are extremely difficult to hunt, you can learn a lot about their moods from their colorful appearance, which will help you make wiser decisions in the woods. As seen in my unfortunate anecdote, head colour is one of the best clues. As the turkey approached, his head was in pale shades of white and blue. These colors usually indicate that the bird is at ease and that you are well hidden, keeping it from realizing you are there. Additionally, these hues are known to appear pale when a turkey is getting ready to mate, which is a great indicator if the bird is approaching one of your hen decoys. Because of this, hunters should welcome a pale-colored turkey, which can help them unwind and gradually raise their gun to their shoulder.
As I experienced a few seasons ago, things can quickly turn bad even though the pale color of the head can be comforting. I missed the signal that might have ended my hunt as the bird approached 40 yards and his color started to deepen. When a wild turkey feels threatened or enraged, their head frequently flushes red, much like the blushing of a madman. For the hunter, this means hanging up the phone or just pulling the trigger because there isn’t much time left.
In addition to their head color, wild turkeys’ body language can reveal a lot about their emotional state. Here are a few to look out for when in the woods this season:
Putting:
When turkeys are afraid or upset, they will putt, which is a short, sharp call. This sound will sound noticeably sharper and shorter than the traditional cluck sound that hunters strive so hard to produce. If a bird makes this sound while you are around, it is probably aware of you and you should get shot right away. When in the field, hunters should also refrain from using this call. Make sure you are not the one issuing the warning signal by adding yelps to the end of your clucks.
Wing Twitching:
Wing twitching is common amongst aggravated birds. If you are using a male decoy, this may not be any cause for alarm. However, if you are managing a lone hen, finish your work quickly because it is probably getting ready to take off.
Head Up:
Turkeys are inherently cautious because almost everything in the woods is trying to eat them. They frequently keep their heads up, scanning the area for any indications of danger. Although you will probably encounter this on almost every hunt, several birds raising their heads simultaneously can frequently indicate that you have been discovered.
The Seven-Faced Bird: An Anecdote
All those who have seen a turkey up close for a long time have noticed that it can alter the color of its head. This distinguishing characteristic is reflected in the names of the birds in Japan and Korea, Shichimencho and Chilmyeonjo, respectively, which translate to “the Seven-faced Bird” in English. A hunter who has spent time with these birds will tell you that there are at least three faces: blue, white, and regrettably red. Seven faces may be a bit of a stretch.
A few years ago, while hunting spring turkeys in Southern Ontario, I had the firsthand experience of just how quickly these birds can make these transitions. For the majority of my hunting career, I have been allowed to hunt on this small piece of farmland. The turkeys see little pressure from hunters because I am the only one hunting the land, with the exception of a few close friends and family members, and they are frequently cooperative. But this season, I was able to pull off enough botched hunts early on to make the birds as cautious as I had ever seen them. One of these clumsy hunts, however, resulted in some interesting observations.
Working the same big tom that I had encountered on opening day for the majority of the early season was memorable, especially for the one white-striped tail feather that sat in the center of his dark brown fan. Although this bird would have made a great nickname for itself in this section of the narrative, Jack White (also known as Elephant or another nickname related to the White Stripes) sadly went unnamed during my pursuit of him.
The familiar pale blue head of the turkey emerged from the woods early in the second week of the season, strutting across the field and b-lining towards my decoys after endless days of listening to him gobble in far-off fields. The bird paused a few times, and then began to cluck again when I called, and eventually the tom was getting close enough to shoot, his head still in dull but beautiful shades of blue and white. The bird paused as it got to forty yards away, its head raised and its color beginning to deepen into striking shades of red. I didn’t give it any thought and let out a few more clucks to get the bird closer to my desired distance of thirty yards before taking my shot. The tom’s now-dark red head lowered as soon as I released the sound, and he started running across the field. I didn’t see him again until mid-May, when I eventually succeeded in taking him.
3 Minutes Face to Face With A Turkey
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