Color phases

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Anybody have pictures of different color phases of turkey? I saw a group today with a really big tom in it, I couldn't get close enough for a shot, but I noticed all the females had a lot more white then any turkey I've seen so far here. They were merriams by the way. Thanks

[tucker301]

Don't know about Merriam's, but the eEastern gobblers are blacker and shinier looking than are the hens.
I assume the hens are dull in order to conceal nesting locations.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

The females had a lot more color I thought, only saw one male, he had a blood red head, and was mostly black, and strutting his stuff.