For someone hunting in the South, however, the possibilities depend heavily on exactly where the hunt is taking place.
In much of the southeastern United States, the Eastern wild turkey is the bird hunters are most likely to encounter. The Eastern is the most widely distributed and abundant wild turkey subspecies and occurs across much of the eastern half of the country.Explore Hunting Gear
Florida presents a special case because the peninsula is home to the Osceola, or Florida, wild turkey. Farther west, particularly across portions of Texas and neighboring states, hunters may encounter Rio Grande turkeys.
That geographic clue can be one of the most useful starting points when someone posts a photograph asking, “What kind is this?”
The Eastern Wild Turkey
If the photograph came from a typical Southern hunting location east of the Mississippi River, an Eastern wild turkey may be the most likely answer.Download Nature Guides
Eastern turkeys are known for their distinctive chestnut-brown or dark brown tail-feather tips. Their wings also show prominent black-and-white barring. Adult males, commonly called gobblers or toms, can weigh roughly 18 to 30 pounds, while females generally weigh considerably less.
The Eastern is also famous among turkey hunters for its vocal ability. The National Wild Turkey Federation describes Eastern gobbles as particularly strong and notes that the subspecies tends to have some of the longest beards among wild turkeys.Source Livestock Feed
That combination of size, coloration and behavior makes the Eastern instantly recognizable to experienced hunters, but identification can still become difficult when the bird is seen only briefly.
A turkey standing in dense vegetation can look almost entirely dark. In bright sunlight, however, its feathers may reveal copper, bronze, green and gold iridescence.Explore Hunting Gear
And that is part of the fun.
A bird that seems plain from a distance can become remarkably colorful once it turns in the sunlight.
Why Tail Feathers Matter
When hunters and wildlife enthusiasts attempt to identify turkey subspecies, one of the most useful places to look is the tail.
The color at the ends of the tail feathers can provide an important clue.Download Nature Guides
