The Western Turkey Species

**CAUTION: If you have never hunted Turkey before; Don't start, it is terribly addicting !

TURKEY SPECIES

There are six species of Wild Turkey in the Americas. (The Wild Turkey: Biology & Management. Pg 32-45) These are: Osceola (Florida), Eastern (Midwest to East Coast), Goulds (SW New Mexico/Texas and Mexican Mountains), Ocellated (Campeche Mexico). In Colorado we have: Rio Grande (Riparian dwellers esp. near corn Midwest to West Coast), and Merriam's (Some Prairie and open fields, near corn but prefers Western Mountains and their Ponderosa Pines). Differentiation of species by observation may not be accurate, and DNA determination may be the only generally accepted method of determining crosses.

Rio Grande Wild Turkey

(The Wild Turkey: Biology & Management.pg 340-353)

Let's discuss the premier big bird in the west, the Rio Grande Wild Turkey. Their body color has a copper sheen over predominantly brown body feathers, with a lack of white in the secondary tail feathers. The primary feather's tips are brown to buff .

When we mention the tail feathers, we are discussing primary feather fan tips, and secondary feather tips at the rump, and generally accepted for Rio Grande Wild Turkey, are the presence of darker brown to buff tips. There is a noticeable lack of white, they should be brown or buff on the tips.

Rio Grandes are the largest of the two western species of Wild Turkey. In the less well developed croplands of eastern Colorado and the west, mature Rio Grande Toms will range close to 18-20 lbs for average weight, and have been known to reach 24 lbs. Wild Turkey are reliably aged by spur length. Starting in the first year, the spurs grow at a rate of approximately ¼ inch per year until about year 5 when wear becomes an issue. When the sharp point on the spur becomes rounded, the reliability of this method decreases.

Rio Grande turkey, prefer riparian corridor areas. Water and woody plants are crucial habitat where broad leaf plants provide bugs to feed on. Corn fields are also central to their favored habitat because of the high protein content and rapid uptake by their systems. However, pinto beans and on occasion, soy beans, along with milo and millet are acceptable substitutes. Corn remains king on the menu of preferences.

Another important habitat element, is a decent roost. Rio Grande turkeys prefer to roost close to water. Turkey hunting lore explains it this way, "Turkey like to roost where they can hear their droppings splash into the water." Tall Prairie Cottonwood thickets and occasional Mountain Ash stands provide the favorable roost structures in the western states riparian corridors that Wild Turkey depend upon.

Merriam's Wild Turkey

(The Wild Turkey: Biology & Management.pg 333-342)

The second most plentiful species of turkey is Merriam's Wild Turkey. Their body color features a slight copper sheen over purple to blue black body feathers. The most observable trait is the appearance of lots of white on their lower backs and tail feather tips.

Merriam's primary tail feather fan tips are white to very light buff. The secondary feathers in the tail and rump appear to be all white tipped. The predominance of white in these feathers is probably the best indicator of a Merriam's.

Typically, Merriam's seem to be a bit smaller than Rio Grande's of the same age. For comparison, in 2014, on our property in Morgan County, two, five year old birds, of nearly identical spur length, were harvested. The Rio Grande weighed slightly over 21 lb., and the Merriam with nearly perfectly white tail tips, weighed in at 19.5 lb.

Merriam's aging determinates are the same as Rio Grande's. Their spur growth is also approximately ¼ inch per year to year 5 when wear becomes an issue.

The generally accepted theory about the stock to which Merriam's owe their origin, holds a conflict in itself. It seems to be generally accepted that Merriam's are a cross of Goulds and Rio Grande or, Goulds and Eastern birds, depending upon locale. Where crosses of Merriam's and Rio Grandes are claimed, (Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas) the diagnostic imperative will be DNA testing.

Among hunters where both species and probable crosses are prevalent, a good color mixture, in the primary and secondary feather tips, of brown, buff and white is accepted as a Merriam's/Rio Grande cross.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MERRIAM'S AND RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY

A key difference between Rio Grande and Merriam's, (The Wild Turkey, Expert Advice for Locating and Calling Big Gobblers, pg 25) is that in general, Merriam's hens do not nest during the spring of their first year, the reasons are still not clear.

To review the similarities and differences between these two species, both do well in riparian environments with nearby meadows, prairie cottonwoods, and with pine, or dense deciduous shelter belts. Merriam's have adapted to a wide range of environments, and have adapted readily to areas and habitat usually preferred by Rio Grande turkey.

Merriam's preferred habitat, not usually sought by Rio Grande birds, is rich in Ponderosa Pines, and scrub oak. Their diet is usually rich in pinon nuts, acorns and juniper berries, as well as red kinnikinnick berries, and wild strawberries. In mountainous terrain, their preference is for areas with heavy snows and fast running streams. Commonly, there are several miles between their wintering grounds and summer ranges.

Merriam's chief dietary characteristic is their ability to vary their diet when needed. For instance in the winter, Merriam's thrive on watercress, acorns, pinon nuts, prickly pear fruit, as well as local grain agriculture products such as milo, and corn.

TURKEY GENDER DIFFERENCES

(The Wild Turkey: Biology & Management. Pg 43-44)

TOMS: Mature Toms, in...