Smokey Spotted!!

[870FaceLift]

I believe it's mad calls that makes the smoke phase decoy and it's called the smokey baby.

Wow, I actually thought that was a joke!  Geesh, there's a market for everything!

[Marc]

Cool bird and great capture...

I have seen a few turkeys, but have never seen a smoke phase bird.  I always thought that this was a form of leucism, but apparently, it is actually a genetic color phase.

http://www.startribune.com/smoke-phase-turkeys-rare-beautiful/115339759/

"The partially white or smoke-phase turkeys occur naturally," said Tom Glines, Minnesota's senior regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation. "The white or gray feathers are black-tipped and the birds are beautiful."

What is known is that the wild turkey has four distinct color variations from what is considered the usual plumage. They are the smoke phase, the erythritic or red phase, the melanistic or black phase, and the true albinos, which are pure white with pink eyes. Although these color variations are uncommon, the smoke phase is the most frequently seen. Recessive genes or mutations account for the color abnormalities.

I have to wonder if the smokey phase is not more common in different regions of the country or with different sub-species?  I would also be curious if they are more common with areas that see more snow (as this could actually be a beneficial camouflage in a snow covered area)?

[wislnwings]

Really cool looking turkey.

[Lucky_Strutter]

We have two smoke phase hens on one of our lease, haven't seen a smoke gobbler yet, but I'd love to get one.

[eorlando]

We have two smoke phase hens on one of our lease, haven't seen a smoke gobbler yet, but I'd love to get one.

From what I have read and been told hens are more common than gobblers. Not saying smoke phase anything is common just that hens appear more often than the gobblers.

[Lucky_Strutter]

Heres a picture taken in February.

[MK M GOBL]

Were you hunting?  or did you spot him from the road or scouting?

Scouting, season is not open yet...

MK M GOBL

[catman529]

That tail fan will look great in the file rack. Lol

Really cool looking bird


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[KYHeadhunter02]

Beautiful bird

[Gobble!]

Awesome. Good luck with him!

[MISSISSIPPI Double beard]

Does DSD make a smoke phase decoy?