Wild Turkey

[Round Tuit]

I had a close encounter with a flock of wild turkeys while on a hike this afternoon. I took a portrait of the handsome one.



C & C welcomed

[mugge]

Good catch! He looks grumpy as.
Cheers Ole

[Geoff F]

Bird photos are often disappointing from a front on view but this shot looks good to me.

[Round Tuit]

Good catch! He looks grumpy as.
Cheers Ole

Actually, the whole flock of 7 or 8 birds was quite docile. Nonetheless, I avoided startling them and would have kept my distance if we were anywhere near mating season. They are BIG and have nasty looking spurs on their legs that they use for fighting.

[Round Tuit]

Bird photos are often disappointing from a front on view but this shot looks good to me.

Thanks.
I have some side views that I'll post soon.

[The amateur]

André, I find it difficult to appreciate this photo. The turkey appears to resemble an old man with whom I gradually begin to identify – full of wrinkles, creases, and a somewhat crumpled look.

However, I cannot fail to acknowledge the quality of the image, particularly the background, which, although often overlooked and treated merely as an accessory, forms an essential part of the composition.

[DanK]

A very good capture of a very ugly bird

[escape]

It has the shape of Godzilla. Just need some buildings in background.

[Round Tuit]

André, I find it difficult to appreciate this photo. The turkey appears to resemble an old man with whom I gradually begin to identify – full of wrinkles, creases, and a somewhat crumpled look.

However, I cannot fail to acknowledge the quality of the image, particularly the background, which, although often overlooked and treated merely as an accessory, forms an essential part of the composition.

Thank you Antonio,
The background is out of focus snow.

[Round Tuit]

Here is a side view showing the iridescence of the feathers.

[The amateur]

Better than the first one !

[Round Tuit]

Better than the first one !

It doesn't look quite as grumpy. Not likely to win a beauty contest

[The amateur]

Among turkeys, yes !

[billtils]

I agree with Antonio - this is a more interesting shot and makes more of the feathers (it's still an ugly beast though )

[escape]

I like the second shot. I rotated it, pointing the head up, and crooped the side and top for a different view. Fills in the frame nicely, me thinks

[Round Tuit]

I like the second shot. I rotated it, pointing the head up, and crooped the side and top for a different view. Fills in the frame nicely, me thinks

Interesting point of view

[DanK]

It's widely, but apparently incorrectly, believed that Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey be the national bird of the United States, rather than the bald eagle. From what I have read, he didn't, but in private writings, he criticized the eagle and praised the turkey.

They have made a remarkable (and frankly sometimes annoying) comeback in parts of New England. It's not uncommon to find a group in the yard of a house (garden to you folks on the other side of the pond), and one often sees them wandering around on streets. The can be aggressive if approached. I once raised domesticated turkeys, which were dumb as a brick, and seeing them on busy streets does make me wonder how much smarter the wild ones are.