How to tell the difference between Rio Grande turkey and Merriam turkey?

[brkncly]

I live here and Oregon and was told we have two sub species of turkeys, the Rio Grande and the Merriam.  How do you tell tell the difference between the two?  Thanks!

[Skeeterbait]

Found this for you....

The Rio Grande subspecies is very similar to the Merriam's turkey, and it would take a side-by-side comparison to notice the differences. The Rio is slightly smaller and the banded accent tail-feathers are slightly darker. However, most notably are the primary wing feathers, the Rios are mainly black with small white accent bars, while the Merriams are white with small black accents.


Yeah... that's about clear as mud. To complicate it more, I suspect you are probably dealing with some hybrids in your state also.  I have believed I can tell the difference by the whiteness of the tail covert feathers.  It seems to me that with mirriams the white on the tail coverts tends to be just as white as the tips of the primary tail feathers.  Whereas the Rios the white on the tail coverts tends to be less white or even tan compared to the white on the tips of the primary tail feathers.


This distribution map might help.

[fallhnt]

True Merriams turkeys have shorter legs than a Rio too.That will help if hunting in hybrid areas.

[Turkey Beard]

It's my understanding that the Osceolas are the ones with the "black" wings, the other 3 subspecies in the States all are mostly white wings.

[GobbleNut]

If you are able to see pure-strain Merriams and Rios side by side, there is no mistaking the differences in appearance.  The most noticeable difference to me is in the iridescence of the feathers, especially on the band below the lighter buff tips of the feathers along the rump, but also in the breast area of gobblers of the two subspecies.  Rios have a distinct and unmistakable goldish sheen that Merriams lack.  It should be noted that in order to clearly see the difference and distinguish between the two, it helps to have good sunlight to see the sheen difference, but it is very unmistakable when you see it. 

[stinkpickle]

If you are able to see pure-strain Merriams and Rios side by side, there is no mistaking the differences in appearance.  The most noticeable difference to me is in the iridescence of the feathers, especially on the band below the lighter buff tips of the feathers along the rump, but also in the breast area of gobblers of the two subspecies.  Rios have a distinct and unmistakable goldish sheen that Merriams lack.  It should be noted that in order to clearly see the difference and distinguish between the two, it helps to have good sunlight to see the sheen difference, but it is very unmistakable when you see it. 

Indeed!  If there's not much sunlight, you can take turn the flash on your camera.  A Rio's copper sheen will really show in the photograph.

[TRKYHTR]

If you are able to see pure-strain Merriams and Rios side by side, there is no mistaking the differences in appearance.  The most noticeable difference to me is in the iridescence of the feathers, especially on the band below the lighter buff tips of the feathers along the rump, but also in the breast area of gobblers of the two subspecies.  Rios have a distinct and unmistakable goldish sheen that Merriams lack.  It should be noted that in order to clearly see the difference and distinguish between the two, it helps to have good sunlight to see the sheen difference, but it is very unmistakable when you see it. 

This.

TRKYHTR

[stinkpickle]

If you are able to see pure-strain Merriams and Rios side by side, there is no mistaking the differences in appearance.  The most noticeable difference to me is in the iridescence of the feathers, especially on the band below the lighter buff tips of the feathers along the rump, but also in the breast area of gobblers of the two subspecies.  Rios have a distinct and unmistakable goldish sheen that Merriams lack.  It should be noted that in order to clearly see the difference and distinguish between the two, it helps to have good sunlight to see the sheen difference, but it is very unmistakable when you see it. 

Indeed!  If there's not much sunlight, you can take turn the flash on your camera.  A Rio's copper sheen will really show in the photograph.

Here's a good example...

[GobbleNut]

Yep,...That's a great example of the coloration on a Rio.

[Sherrell]

Some Rio's



Some Merriam's

[Hooksfan]

Here's a pic from a couple years back of a Merriam and Eastern side by side.  I shot the Merriam in South Dakota in the morning, stuck him in the ice chest and drove all day and into the night to get back home to Missouri and went out and killed an Eastern the next morning.  I was pretty whooped.