A couple of days ago the big acorn-hunters were back in the neighborhood, this time at least 19-strong. As the two mature toms chased each other around, the rest of the flock pursued their acorn-scavenging rather sedately. This time I positioned myself in what seemed to be the general direction that they appeared to be going and stood stock still, and Frances was with me again; several approached to within 20 feet or so of me, enabling me to make several rather more intimate portrait shots than I’ve been able to get recently.
I am consistently amazed at the rather bizarre (to my eye) shapes and forms (especially the knobby, lumpy caruncles) into which their skins have evolved and the colors they have adapted. And what possible attraction or advantage can the snood (the fleshy part that sticks up from the beak and, in mature adults, grows to a rather surprising length) provide, one might ask? Actually, it can extend and retract and change color intensity, along with the head and can thereby reflect a bird’s excitement level, taking one position and color when the turkey is at rest and another when it’s alert and active, so it actually helps in communication among members of the flock. And it’s a cool Scrabble word!
krikitarts 
Fantastic shots!! :)
They really are pretty fantastic creatures! Thanks, Cindy!
Great ‘portrait’ shots. They have such interesting features to photograph.
Indeed they do, Victoria. Each new angle seems to reveal some new feature!
Wow, these are great photos! I think I like the last one best.
I think that’s my favorite, too. Thanks for your support!
I love the photos, but they are definitely strange looking birds.
Definitely true, by anyone’s standards. It’s always a happy event when they make an appearance!
Excellent portraits, Gary – and especially the middle one – and especially your rendition of the neck feathers in this shot – they look like armour! Adrian
That occurred to me, too, Adrian–or possiby even fish scales. It is just so much fun to be able to study these amazing birds in such detail–wish you could be here to see them in person!
Very interesting, Gary…love the details…and those are almost frighteningly ugly birds…if truth be told. :)
Guess it’s in the eye of the beholder. Who knows? One of these might be destined to be a calendar pin-up.
Must be, Gary…and about the calendar pin-up…? Ok. :)
Why do turkeys have bald heads at all, like vultures? I know why vultures are bald but the same reasons don’t apply to turkeys. Great portraits btw.
I think you’d have to ask a turkey, or maybe God…but it’s a very good question!