Bird ID

[camotruck]

I'm having trouble getting photos to load so Ill start by asking any one here that has taken a pure Rio Grande if they can tell me how many tail feathers it has. I thought all turkey had 18 But someone told me the Ris's have 20.  Anyone have a count.  I got a bird in Kansas but I think it's a Hybred. It has 18 tail feathers. it was killed in Geary co and area known to have Rios Easterns and Hybreds.  Any help ....

Camo

[TRKYHTR]

All of the melegrious gallapova will have 18 tailfeathers. It is a rarity to have 20 and even more rare to have 19 or 21. It is a genetic thing. I killed a gobbler in one area that had 20 tailfeathers and a buddy of mine killed one there the next year with 20 also.

TRKYHTR

[stinkpickle]

A lot of folks consider any Rio-looking bird killed east of Hwy 81 a hybrid.  I'm not sure if that's technically correct or not.

[camotruck]

ok thanks for the replys.  I'll try to get some pictures up.

[camotruck]

Here's a picture of the bird.

http://i.imgur.com/9rSHQ.jpg

[stinkpickle]

Nice bird!  He looks Rio enough, eh?   

[TRKYHTR]

Here's a picture of the bird.

http://i.imgur.com/9rSHQ.jpg

Looks like 20 from what I count.

TRKYHTR

[camotruck]

No he's got 18 Funny thing is by buddy ,who went with me on this hunt got one also ... it had 20 tail feathers

[Gut_Pile]

As far as I know all turkeys have 18. I have killed one with 19 and from what I have read is one out of every four or five hundred. I have seen a two year old with 16 feathers before.

I always count the tail feathers. Something I have always done

[BOFF]

Here's a picture of the bird.

http://i.imgur.com/9rSHQ.jpg

Looks like 20 from what I count.

TRKYHTR

I counted 20 as well.

O'well, must be an optical illusion.

God Bless,
David B.

[Gut_Pile]

I counted 18