Turkey double take

[croixflats]

This may be hard to believe.

Working up near Big Marine lake this weekend I saw the strangest thing, three hens and a fourth. Well the fourth was a Peacock fallowing behind the hens. Yes a Peacock. I asked my clients about this and they told me the Peacock started hanging around the last couple of weeks and after the hens trying to chase the Peacock away the hens finally gave up and let it fallow them around.

Another thing I thought was funny. I stayed over night after attending a small get together and I was woke up by a hunter doing his calls early morning on the edge of the property in the back. Boy was he going to town with the call box doing his best. I got up after watching him for a while and decided to go upstairs to get some coffee. I looked out the front door and there sat 3 turkeys and a Peacock on the other side of the property. Each were oblivious of the other. Then later in the day I see the male turkey darting around in the back property like he lost something, this was after the hunter left. Strange.

[DonBo]

That's a pretty funny visual there Croix. Where's the camera when you need it?

My Dad once saw a grouse strutting for a hen turkey.

[Gordie]

imagine the colors that the offspring would have. What would you call that bird Teacock or Purkey

[123fish]

You would need cathederal ceilings to display the tail mount.

[croixflats]

I'll be working up there again later in the week and I definitely will have the camera with.

Question on the beards. The male I saw running in the back had one beard I could see hanging down, do the males have multiple beards the more mature they get? The reason I ask is after viewing the great pictures you all have posted I seen multiple beards and talk of the beards.

The turkeys I believe are the most under appreciated bird we have thought I'd take the time to learn more about them.

And I wonder if the purkey or teacock would have a black beard or would it be plaid.

[DonBo]

Multiple beards only happen on about 10% of toms, has nothing to do with age. Most only have two, some three, occasionally four, I shot one several years ago with 5. Pretty rare.

Interesting note, approx 10% of hens (or so they say) also have beards, though they are usually not as long or thick as most toms.

Teacock, that's pretty funny.

[croixflats]

Thanks DonBo very intresting.