Thursday, March 3, 2011

Turkey Two-Step Thursday

Two wild tom turkeys practice their moves without a turkey lady in sight.
The dropped wings and the fanned tail feathers are gorgeous but for me . . .
I'd have to say that the blue faces are the perfect finishing touch.
( Click pics to biggify and get the full effect of these guys' courting finery.)
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28 comments:

estaminet said...

It always makes me laugh when you write "biggify"...I'm also a fan of "embiggen."

Unknown said...

Yep.. I biggified them.. great photos. I do like turkeys! both gorgeous and gawky.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Oh aren't they gorgeous creatures ...males strutting their stuff till they are blue in the face!

Victoria said...

Gorgeous photos! With those blue faces they look like something Arthur Rackham might have painted...

Novice Naturalist said...

I read all your posts and usually stay quiet. But for this one, I just have to say
WOW! Being the crazed bird lover I am.

Desiree said...

Weren't you treated to a marvellous spectacle...I'm sure they were honouring you with their moves :)

We regularly have guineafowl visiting our garden. They aren't as showy as your turkeys, but keep us entertained.

Alan Burnett said...

Such strange creatures L it's almost as if they were put together by a group of apprentices on a quiet afternoon.

Brian Miller said...

nice. been seeing a lot more turkeys in the fields...and roosting in the trees...nice with the extension of their plumage...

Kristen Haskell said...

I am such a city girl. I see them in all their glory and wonder how anyone could eat them. Then I buy Turkey every week because it is my favorite go to meat. They are gorgeous birds and those blue faces. You really take the best pictures.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Turkey trot has a whole new meaning now! Thanks! Pictures are grand!!! Cathy

Suz said...

Oh they are gorgeous..
embiggen...why I like that one too

BB said...

Maybe there's a new turkey lady moving into the neighborhood. They must have heard the rumors and are merely practicing.

Tess Kincaid said...

Wow! They are so amazing!

JC said...

I don't think I've seen them do that before. Thanks ...

NCmountainwoman said...

Spring is definitely in the air. Great photographs.

Darla said...

Wonderful captures of the ostentatious displays!

Unknown said...

These are the most gorgeous turkeys I've ever seen. The wild ones that were about our property in No. CA were not so magnificent, more like buzzards! Great photos of thier showing off.

Kath said...

My favorite part of the Jake Dance, is how the hens keep on eating while the big guys dance and dance.
My vote goes to the hens for practicality.

Martin said...

I wonder what his chat-up line is, or where she keeps her dance card?

Louise said...

I wonder where the ladies were? Great shots of a magnificent bird. I love their gobble gobble gobble.

Folkways Note Book said...

Vicki -- what great shots of the male turkeys. They are perhaps just trying to instill fear in each other. -- barbara

Vicki Lane said...

Enbiggiate is another good one, estaminet.

Exactly, Joan, gorgeous and gawky.

Desiree -- I wonder if that's the same guineas that are domesticated over here -- funny little heads and large round bodies, grey feathers with tiny white dots. We used to have some and I loved watching them.

Possibly, Alan, but consider the platypus for a real committee project...

It's a dilemma, Kristen. We raise and butcher chickens but I'm firmly opposed to anyone taking a shot at our wild turkeys.

Kath, I've seen that too. The ladies just play it cool.

Martin -- I suspect the chat-up line (or as we say over here, the pick-up line)is something like "Hey, bay-BEE! Yo, check it out!"

tattytiara said...

They are gorgeous birds! I love going down to the local heritage park where they have turkeys roaming free - they really are such impressive creatures, and it's so clear when you get a chance to look at them in a natural environment.

Christine said...

Aren't these boys just wonderful! I got to watch them last May in Cades Cove struttin their stuff and the hen couldn't care less! They sure can put on a show.

Margaret said...

Two huge male turkeys chased my son when he was about six. My son walked past the hens and the toms took off after him! They really were out for blood - I had to swing the stroller at them (no baby in it! :) to fend them off. I was afraid. More like velosoraptors (dinosaurs) if you ask me!

Vicki Lane said...

Whew, Margaret -- so glad your clarified that about the stroller. But I can imagine your son was terrified.

Jill said...

So beautiful! Turkeys are so much fun to watch. I love seeing them in the woods when we walk. Great photos!

Deanna said...

Thank you for making me grin! Beautiful!