Wild Turkeys are enormous, fat birds with long legs, broad, rounded tails, and a small head on a narrow neck.
Turkeys are dark entirely with a bronze-green iridescence to the most maximum of their plumage. Their wings are dark, strongly barred with white color.
Their tail and rump feathers are significantly tipped with white or rusty. The bare skin of the neck and head differs from blue to red to grey.
At the start of spring, males gather in fields to perform courtship displays. They blow up their body feathers, widen their tails into an erect fan, and strut slowly while offering a special gobbling call. At night, these birds fly up into trees to roost in flocks.
Turkey feathers have a wide variety of uses beyond just covering the bird. From clothing to tools to decor, those feathers can find new life in crafty hands. Don’t let a single plume go to waste after your next hunt or poultry harvest.
Feather Your Nest with Turkey Plumage
Nothing says “autumn” like a home decorated with turkey feathers. You can use them to make wreaths, garlands, bouquets, and other rustic decor items. Glue or wire feathers to grapevine wreaths for an easy wall hanging. For a feather bouquet, cut quills short and insert into foam, then display in a vase. Or get creative with turkey feather garlands on your mantel or strung along the top of kitchen cabinets.
Large tail feathers also make beautiful standalone pieces. Mount them on wood plaques for wall art. Or display solo feathers in vases. Even plain old feathers tossed in a bowl adds natural texture.
Fashion Functional Flowers
Don’t stop at home decor Turkey feathers can become wearable art, too. Make earrings, hair clips, brooches, and more Wire feathers to jewelry findings to create stunning danglies. Glue feathers to barrettes for boho hair styling. Hot glue feathers to a pin back to make a shawl brooch. Add some flair to a wool coat by attaching feathers along the collar or cuffs. For a more dramatic look, fashion full feather fans or boas.
Fletch Arrows with Bird Plumage
Turkey wing feathers are ideal for fletching arrows. Their stiffness offers stability in flight. Carefully split the quill lengthwise into thirds. Then shape and adhere to the arrow shaft like traditional fletching. For even more unique arrows, try spiral fletching with smaller body feathers.
Fly High with Feathered Masks
Channel your inner masquerade attendee by crafting a feathered mask. Carefully glue an array of feathers to a plain mask form. opt for an eye mask, full face mask, or something in between. Peacock and pheasant feathers work nicely, but don’t overlook your torn or broken turkey plumes. Layer colors and sizes for added dimension. Finish by adding ribbons or elastic for securing.
Feather Your Nests with Bedding
Stuff a pillow or mattress with turkey feathers for an all-natural alternative to synthetic fills. Feathers tend to be more insulating than down. So they make very warm bedding options. However, feathers are more likely to poke through the fabric So choose high thread count coverings or mix with down to mitigate prickliness
Duster Up with Feathery Tools
Don’t throw away small, fluffy body feathers. Save them to make a feather duster! Simply tie feathers to a wooden dowel with twine or wire. Use the natural cleaning tool to dust furniture, windowsills, ceiling fans and more. The feathers attract and cling to dust easily. To clean, just shake the duster outdoors.
You can also add feathers to commercial dusters for a boost. Or make feather-tipped wand toys for cats!
Write With Quill Pens
In earlier eras, people used feather quills as writing instruments. You can still put turkey quills to work as pens. Carefully cut the tip of the dried quill at a slant to form the nib. Then trim to make a point. Dip into ink and write or draw. With practice, you can even develop line variation skills like calligraphy.
Fly Fish with Feathery Flies
Tie trout flies using small turkey feathers. You’ll want to select flexible body and wing feathers. Some also use the more rigid tail feathers for streamers. Deer hair and other materials are still used in combination with feathers. But turkey offers a versatile, natural option for many standard fly patterns.
Fan Out Folky Crafts
Turkey feathers are commonly used in Southwestern and Native American arts and crafts. Add feathers to dreamcatchers or medicine wheels for a more authentic touch. Use feathers in place of fringe on leather accessories like purses. Or incorporate them into beadwork. Macaw and pheasant feathers are typical, but don’t overlook the turkey!
Play Native American Dress Up
Kids and adults alike enjoy dressing up as Native Americans for school projects or Halloween. To make a historically accurate costume, turkey feathers should feature prominently. Glue or tie feathers into headbands, moccasins, vests and more. Strive to represent specific tribes whenever possible. But even generic tribal-inspired looks benefit from turkey plumage.
Preserve Memories in Shadowboxes
Shadowboxes let you display meaningful feathers in an artistic arrangement. Use a wooden box frame with a glass or acrylic front. Cover the inside back with fabric. Then mount feathers how you wish using glue, wire, or clear tape. Include photos, captions, dried flowers, etc. to highlight the significance. Favorite hunting feathers or feathers from childhood birds make especially touching shadowboxes.
Fly Away with Feathered Fascinators
Fancy hat events call for fancy feathers! Create elegant fascinators and other feathered hats using turkey plumes. Sometimes a single dramatic feather is all you need. But don’t be afraid to go over the top with layers, shapes and colors. Wire feathers to headbands or clip them to hair combs. Or hot glue feathers to plain fabric hats. Finish off with ribbons, veils or flowers.
So next time you harvest a turkey, save those feathers! With a bit of creativity, you can give them new life and make cherished items to enjoy for years to come. Don’t let a single plume go to waste.
Rio Grande Wild Turkey
Rio Grande Wild Turkeys (M.g. intermedia) exist in the south-central plains states and north-eastern Mexico; initially reported in 1879 by George B. Sennett.
Gould’s Wild Turkey (M.g. Mexicana) exists in parts of Southern Arizona and Northwestern Mexico, and New Mexico; the most comprehensive of the subspecies and is threatened.
Characteristics of the Strut
If you’re not a turkey hunter, you may be questioning what a strutting turkey seems like. The strut of these birds consists of five chief characteristics:
- The bird will drop down their wings to allow the main wing feathers to reach the ground.
- The bird will keep its tail erect and expand its tail feathers to make a fan.
- The gobbler will put all the breast and back feathers in a vertical position, making him appear larger.
- The head, caruncles and naked skin of a wild turkey may vary from blue to flesh tone or bright red. The bird’s crown is normally completely white.
- The bird will draw its neck and head down into an “s” shape and extend the snood (or leader) near the bottom of its beak.
Each of the above characteristics signifies a strut, and during the display, the turkey usually shakes and makes two sounds, a clear “huff” or a deep drumming and spitting sound.
How to Properly Care for your turkey feathers
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