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 come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns Their vibrant plumage is one of the things that makes wild turkeys such a treat to observe in the wild. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the typical colors and markings found on turkey feathers
Overview of Turkey Feather Colors
Turkeys are dark overall with a bronze-green iridescence to most of their plumage. Their wings are dark boldly barred with white. Their rump and tail feathers are broadly tipped with rusty or white. The bare skin of the head and neck varies from red to blue to gray.
Here’s a quick rundown of the most common feather colors seen on wild turkeys
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Bronze, Copper, Gold: Shimmering metallic sheen on body feathers and wing coverts. More intense on males.
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Iridescent Green: Emerald and teal shades shine on the neck and body. Also more vibrant on males.
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Russet: Rich cinnamon hue on tail feathers and wing linings.
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White: Clean white bars and tips decorate the wings and tail.
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Black: Deep black forms the background color and centered stripes.
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Brown: Different earthy brown tones occur on body and covert feathers.
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Gray: Mutted gray found on some body and covert feathers.
Let’s explore some of these colors and patterns in more detail.
Iridescent Body Feathers
One of the most striking features of wild turkey feathers is the iridescent sheen covering most of their body. This is produced by the structure of the feathers rather than pigments.
When sunlight hits the feathers, it bounces off the complex molecular structure in a way that makes the surface shimmer with metallic hues. The effect is the same as when oil floats on top of water.
Males tend to have much more vibrant iridescence in shades of copper, bronze and emerald green. The iridescent feathers cover the body, breast, back, and wing covert feathers.
Females and juveniles have a more muted rainbow sheen. Their body feathers are more dominated by different shades of brown and gray.
Boldly Barred Wing Feathers
The primary and secondary wing feathers of wild turkeys are decorated with very conspicuous white barring. This create a striking high-contrast effect against the darker base color.
The background color is typically a deep greenish-black. But it can also range from dark gray to brown. Each long wing feather will display between 5 to 8 bars of bright white.
When the turkey fans its wings open, this bold pattern becomes very noticeable and distinctive. The contrast makes it easy to identify that you’re looking at a turkey.
On juveniles, the white bars tend to be thinner and less evenly spaced. As the bird matures, the barring becomes heavier and more regular.
Rusty Rump and Tail
The turkey’s rump patch and long tail feathers are tipped with a rich cinnamon or rusty color. This russet hue provides a great accent against the darker barred pattern.
On fully mature males, the tail tips are a bright chestnut red. On females, the russet tone is paler and more muted. There can also be cream or white mottling in the rump and tail.
When the turkey fans its tail upright, the russet coloration is very visible. This makes the classic turkey shape easy to recognize.
Changeable Head Colors
The turkey’s featherless head and neck go through some dramatic color changes. This bare skin can quickly shift from red to white to blue to gray.
Males tend to show off the most vibrant shades during courtship displays. A male seeking to attract a mate will turn his head bright red and extend his fleshy wattles.
The color changes are signals used for territorial displays and expressing mood. It helps the birds communicate without making noise.
What Influences Turkey Feather Colors?
Now that we’ve surveyed the color palette of turkey feathers, let’s look at some factors that affect their appearance:
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Sex – Males have brighter, more iridescent body feathers and darker wing and tail markings.
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Age – Mature birds have more defined patterns, heavier barring, and more intense colors.
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Season and Health – Feather luster and skin color changes based on condition.
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Geography – Some subtle regional color variations occur across different subspecies.
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Diet – Nutrition impacts feathers grown during molting periods.
So when you spot a flock of turkeys, look closely at their feathers to get clues about their sex, age and health status. Their colorful plumage tells a vivid story if you know what to look for!
The stunning variety of turkey feather colors and patterns make them very appealing to use for crafts and clothing decoration. But be sure you only use legal feathers obtained through ethical means. With a little knowledge, you’ll be able to identify turkey feathers at a glance.
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.
Uses for Turkey Feathers
Feathers can be so well-supplied, but what are they used for?
Impressively, feathers can be used for various things that likely aren’t believed about right off: Diapers, Insulation, Pillow stuffing, Paper, Upholstery padding, Plastics, and Feather Meal.
But the uses above are perfect for commercial, large quantities of feathers. For the personal use of turkey feathers, several uses and decorations are pretty beautiful, functional, and even historic.
You can apply feathers to make several decorative products such as boas, masks, bird ornaments, costume accessories, feather fans, and even earrings and flowers. They are also regularly used in the making of fishing flies.
Initially, Turkey feathers were utilized to stabilize arrows and beautify the ceremonial dress. The spurs on the legs of wild tom turkeys were practised on arrowheads as projectiles.
The outfit that “Big Bird” carries on Sesame Street is rumored to be produced from turkey feathers.
Besides, you might be wondering, is it legal to use feathers? Not all birds are illegal. For instance, the feathers of turkeys, chickens, and peacocks are legal.
Turkey Feather Artist: Nicole Larson
FAQ
What do female turkey feathers look like?
Can turkeys have green feathers?
Why are turkey feathers iridescent?
Can wild turkeys have white feathers?
What do turkey tail feathers look like?
Tail feathers, also known as rectrices, can be found on either side of a wild turkey’s rump. These long plumes range from 5-17 inches (13-43 cm) in length and vary significantly in color between males and females: Male tail feathers usually display colors such as blackish-brown or bronze with white tips.
Do turkeys have white feathers?
Turkeys with white colored feathers are most common and widely raised for meat production. Like domesticated turkeys, wide variety of colorful feathers can also be seen in wild turkeys. The wild male turkeys are banded with iridescent feathers that shine in colors of bronze, copper, gold, green and red.
How do you identify turkey feathers?
Turkey feathers display a range of colors, from iridescent copper and bronze to rich browns and blacks. The texture of turkey feathers is also unique and can be noticeable when running your fingers along the feather’s surface. By following these tips, you will be able to accurately identify turkey feathers.
What does the color of a turkey’s feathers mean?
Turkeys come in a variety of colors, from the familiar brown and white, to striking black, blue, and copper varieties. The color of a turkey’s feathers can tell you a lot about its breed, gender, and genetic traits.