Need some ID clarification
 

I haven't posted here for a while but I do stop in very often and always enjoy your knowledge and stories. I do have a question about a long beard I took yesterday.
In hunting turkeys I have taken ~45 birds in my life and I have only taken two with this coulor of fan in all of those years hunting. I'm in Merriam turkey country and was wondering what you think this coulor meanings as far as identity of bird etc.? Not white tipped is what I'm referring too.

Wow! No one can tell what they think this bird is? I live in north central/eastern Montana.

Looks like a Rio Grande turkey from the colors.

^ thanks for your response. I was thinking maybe eastern species but I have no idea really. Is a unique coulor from the normal white tipped we have. Maybe some hybrid or mixture of breeds also.

Looks like a normal buff coloured Merriam's.

Timbrhuntr, thanks for your thoughts. I'm thinking Merriam also just a coulor phase that has occurred.
I did do some research and coulor and they can be white or buff. That is very interesting for me, because living where that is all you see is white tipped feathers. I didn't know they can be buff. Lol

Thanks

It is my understanding that buff is the more natural colouring in a true Merriam's and not white . I have shot Rio's in Texas that were almost white as opposed to the more buff type colouring you never know I guess . With Merriam's they seem to have less iridescent breast feathers more purple as opposed to the bronze colour of rio's plus the the tips on the main tail feathers are wider on the Merriam's .

^^ Thanks, I really did appreciate your detailed identification and knowledge.

Normal Buff colored Merriam. Seen alot of that color phase in and around Sundance WY

JW

The Rio's I've shot tend to have iridescent breast feathers and tan tail feathers but less white on the wings.