Wild Turkey Mating
As days get longer, (March and April) this signals the beginning of the turkey mating season. I was so lucky to find a few groups of turkeys today (in Amherst and New Boston) in full courting mode. I got some really great shots!
This male Wild Turkey is displaying for the female.
During mating season, the male will erect his tail and spread it like a fan. His wattles are more brightly colored and will swell. He will puff out his feathers and droop or even drag his wings.
This male is strutting around making gobbling sounds.
All males operate through a rigid pecking order. The dominant male mates the most.
After a male finishes mating with one hen, he immediately looks for another.
Since males are not worrying about taking care of any newborns, they have plenty of time to preen and strut.
16 comments:
wow! you did get some phenomenal shots! great job, ruta!
great pics and really interesting
OH WOW, cool sighting and awesome photos. Those turkeys wouldn't last around here, way TOO many hunters.
New Hampshire's spring gobbler season runs May 3-31
I love all your turkey posts. With them being farm birds in this country it's great to see them in the wild. And the males in their breeding plumage are magnificent.
Beautiful photos. Interesting, too!
WOW! You were in the right place at the right time!
Amazing photos! Mine come up to the back door. They disappear in spring/summer, though.
Pond life!
BTW
You Americans were our friends in helping us reintroduce turkeys to Ontario! We had 32 Xmas day in our backyard, 2011!
I wrote about it here:
http://mymuskoka.blogspot.ca/2011/01/wild-turkeys-in-ontario.html
I see them on occasion over here near the coast. Never quite like this. These are terrific shots.
These are fantastic shots! What splendid birds they are!
Wow, that's a lot!
Visiting late from Camera Critters. Hope you have a good Easter celebration!
My Critters
wow, amazing shots!!
Thats an impressing post. And an impressing bird.
Awesome shots of the turkeys.
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