I am not sure why this wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) decided to flash its feathers at me yesterday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but it sure made for a fun photo. A fellow photographer spotted a small flock of turkeys foraging in a faraway field and we tried to track them as they made their way up a small slope at the edge of the field.
Most of the time the turkeys kept their heads down as they moved forward, scratching about in the dirt, as you can see in the final photo. I had to wait patiently, hopeful that one of them would raise its head briefly before they got too far away. I was thrilled when the turkey in the second shot stood still for a moment and almost ecstatic when it fanned and flashed its feathers as you saw in the featured first photo.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Working out a wing cramp… 😉
That’s as good an explanation, Eliza, as any that I can come up with. 🙂
They blend in well with the surroundings. I’m glad they decided to work with you, Mike.
The turkeys manage to camouflage themselves pretty well visually, but they are definitely not quiet as they scratch about in the underbrush.
Wow, Mike love that first shot!
Thanks, Gary. Maybe it’s the turkey version of a fan dance.