Who's the Turkey expert?
 

I spotted some turkey's in the field behind the house this afternoon. I noticed one of them was white/gray. How rare is this?

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

A white & grey coloring scheme is somewhat rare
especially in the Eastern Sub-species of the wild
turkey. Would definately make a fine trophy mount.
It is somewhat more common in the Merriman sub-
species that are found more in Texas & New Mexico.
Some biologist say this is the albino trait found
in some species of the wild turkey. Hope this helps
a little. I would be after them like a mad-man
come spring. Also you did not say what state you
saw these in. Good luck God Bless

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

AQUATECH,
I live on the Illinois/Wisconsin border in Illinois. I see these turkeys often and this was the 1st chance I had to take a few pictures. I wish I could have gotten closer, but there's no cover for stalking. This bird is a hen.
The white/gray turkey is always the last bird and youcan see that it's on the far left side and the turkey's were headed to the right of the picture to roost in a near by woods.
Is this bird always last because of a pecking order?

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

In all the years I hunted turkey in Wisconsin I never saw that color combination. Turkey hunting is one of my favorite spring time things. In the fall I have too much going on, but its a great way to start the spring time.

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

I've seen and called in several in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. It is a color mutation, not a cross-breed with domestic turkeys. I'm told the offspring of a cross between wild and domestic turkeys can't survive long in the wild.

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

I've seen hundreds upon hundreds of turkeys in my life and only one of them was the gray phase. So, it's reallyrare here in VA.

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

I have hunted turkeys for several years and have shot many i once shot a white turkey. These turkeys like the one in this picture is not rare. I work with the nwtf every now and then, what they tell people is that these birds should be shot. The reason being is because this is not a phase this is what they call cross breeding between a wild turkey and a tame turkey. Now this could of happened two was someone released a tame turkey or the wild turkey came in to a barn yard with tame turkeys. So all this is a bad case of mixed genetics.

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

There was a hen that color on the farm I hunt on. Saw her for a few years, didn't see her this year. That's the only one I've seen. You should post this on the turkey forum.

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

HELLO,

THIS IS PROBABLY A DOMESTIC BIRD WHICH HAS MOVED IN WITH WILD ONE, SEEN THIS ONLY ONE TIME VERY RARE , GREAT PHOTO.......

RE: Who's the Turkey expert?
 

Sorry to disagree, but domestic turkeys can't survive in the wild. Domestic birds typically can't fly and lack the survival instincts of wild turkeys. It is widely accepted that these are color mutations of normal wild turkeys.

As I posted above, I have seen and called several white phase wild turkeys in my life, both gobblers and hens.One of the first ones I ever saw was a white gobbler with a large group of hens in south Mississippi near Hazelhurst. Another time a buddy and I called and videotaped a completely white hen hunting in a river bottom miles from the nearest house. I've seen white ones with the large flocks of turkeys in the winter here inTennessee.