Mood Swings: Eastern Wild Turkey

Some birds change plumage for different seasons.  Many species change their appearance considerable between breeding and non-breeding plumage.  The eastern wild turkey gobblers do not change plumage however they most certainly do change appearance when the mood strikes them.

 

 

A Eastern Wild Turkey gobbler stares down the lens. 

 

 

Some of the gobbler's bright colors can be seen in this capture. 

 

 

But it is only when a gobbler is in full strut that he fully displays his patriotic colors.

 

The blurry forms of other gobblers can be seen in the background of this close-up shot.

 

Although we are now experiencing the coldest temperatures of the winter, the gobblers are already anticipating the upcoming spring mating season.

Lookin Good for the Ladies

Strutting is all about the hens.  Gobblers don't gobble and strut to impress or intimidate other gobblers, they strut to attract the hens.  Here a pair of jakes put their colors on display trying to gain the attention of the hen feeding in the foreground.

And this mature gobbler looks to be trying out his latest break dancing move; getting down for the girls.

A close-up reveals the brilliant red, white, and blue color scheme of the gobbler's head.  

Strutting His Stuff!

The Wild Turkey mating season normally begins slowly in early March before exploding in early April.  However the unseasonably warm weather we have experienced for more than a week has the woodlands resounding with the throaty gobbles of the big toms as they vie for mates. 

Wild Turkeys gobble and strut both mornings and evenings with morning activity usually the better.  Gobbling will usually begin before daylight while they are still on their overnight roost.  The early morning gobbling gives one the opportunity to locate the toms and set up in a likely spot for early morning action.

This series though was captured in the evening after I spotted a flock of hens accompanied by some attending gobblers feeding in an open field.  Seeing that a ravine may allow me to approach unseen I was able to stalk to within photography distance; capturing this big fellow Strutting His Stuff. 

The Wild Turkey: A Bird of many Colors

From a distance or in subdued light the Eastern Wild Turkey appears as a predominately black colored bird.

However, when an adult male steps into bright sunlight the incredible colors of his iridescent feathers changes his appearance entirely.

And the closer you look the more beautiful his coat of many colors becomes.

As March approaches the early stirrings of the breeding season can be seen in flocks of gobblers as they Jockey for dominance.

Although, I haven't observed a mature gobbler in full strut to date, the jakes are creating quite a commotion.  I was hoping to capture a good side or frontal shot of this jake as he strutted his stuff today, however all of the good poses came while he was partially obscured by the high grass.