Albino Turkey

[tyrajam]

So my best friend shot this bird in Northern California yesterday. Never seen an albino before, what a trophy! He got it at 45 yards with his bow.

 

[phylodog]

Nice! I've never heard of, let alone seen an albino turkey.

 

[rgrimm01]

Complete with pink eyes? That is beautiful. Who would have thunk...

 

[w_ADAM_d88]

That's aweaome... a buddy of mine shot a albino hen a few years back in VA. Usually they are from a domestic turkey that gets loose and ends up mating. Although genetic defects could be the cause too. I'll see if my buddy has a pic of the one he got and try to post it.

 

[Willie]

That is called a "smoke phase" as it is not completely white. My son killed a similar bird in South Dakota a few years back. An albino would be totally white and have pink eyes. I have never heard of a pure albino wild turkey..

 

[drrun]

That's crazy looking...what a trophy! Also a pretty healthy shot.

 

[tyrajam]

I just talked to him on the phone, he said he showed it to a F&G wildlife biologist who said it wasn't a true albino, like Willie said, but a wild bird that probably had some domestic genes somewhere in its heritage. Still stinking cool, I'd love to see one like that out hunting!

 

[Montgomery Hicks]

there called Royal Turkey

 

[Redskinsfan]

Very cool trophy bird. What a catch.

 

[jb1212]

Deffiently different

 

[mertbl]

That's awesome. I would definitely be springing for the full body mount on that one, maybe even flying.

 

[brdhntr37]

Awesome! I am just hoping for a normal turkey this season...

 

[PGRChaplain]

That will make a beautiful mount!

 

[whitetailbowhunter]

One of my good friends took his cousin out this weekend and they saw this "albino" hen. Didn't get a shot on it, but its still pretty cool!

 

[Lonnie]

I've seen many of them feeding in a flock with other eatern turkey in southern indiana

 

[OWGEM]

Technically this is called a leucistic bird. Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals. Unlike albinism, which is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment resulting in an animal with no color, ie white. Since this bird has dark markings it is leucistic.

Still quite the neat bird and find.