Wild turkeys in our region are prolific.
March is the beginning of their mating season, depending on the weather, most turkeys in the eastern part of the USA are looking for a mate to cuddle with. They don't mind the late snowfalls and they spread out in the cut corn fields. Some of them can get quite plump, their plumage is muted but very detailed when you take a closer look.
On a Sunday ride to take in the wonders of #nature we came across a big flock of turkeys out in a corn field. There had to be 20 or more tripping along.
Talk about busy birds, Oh Neli, these bad boys were hard to keep up with. It was really cold out, like 20 degrees at the time and I kept trying to keep up with their migration. I walked out into the cornfield to try and capture a good photo, but they just kept moving as my boots squished into the cold and wet soil.
They were scratching and poking at the frozen earth as if their life depended on it, and well, I guess that is about right. The search for food is the number one priority for wild fowl.
This flock of turkeys must have been finding the corn seeds a plenty as there were so many in just this one field.
Now from what I could see, the vast majority of these turkeys are female. I am sure I am wrong unless of course it was girls' night out. I just didn't pick up on red heads, which is a common trait in the males.
The males possess a red flap of skin under their chins called a wattle, and they have bumps called caruncles on their heads and throats. A snood dangles from their beaks. Spurs can be found on the backs of their lower legs. The omnivorous wild turkeys eat roots, tubers, acorns, nuts, berries, flowers, amphibians, insects and even reptiles. They are called Toms.
Turkey Hens
Wild female turkeys, or hens, weigh from 5 to 12 pounds and range from 30 to 37 inches long. Hens bear less colorful feathers than males, with rusty brown, white or gray-tipped breast feathers. Their heads are either white or blue-gray, with small feathers on both head and neck. Their wattles, snoods, caruncles and spurs are small. Hens make vocalizations such as yelps, clucks and cuts. Approximately 10 percent of hens possess a “beard,” or elongated chest feathers. Hens do not strut or fan their tails. Females can lay from nine to 13 eggs, which they incubate for around 28 days.
https://sciencing.com/tell-between-male-female-turkeys-5810985.html
Toms will fan their tail feathers during mating season hoping to attract a girlfriend. But the hens will never do such a thing, they wouldn't want the rumor mill to start up with the other ladies in town. (hussy?)
The crew kept moving, with every step closer I took, they took ten. They are amazingly quick on their feet.
The things I do for love...
Wildlife, nature and #featheredfriends, always wonderful to be a part of. It's an amazing world, all you have to do is take a Sunday drive.
This is my entry in the #SMaP contest, thanks to 
Blessings to all!!