World's Ugliest Bird

SCraig · Jan 20, 2013

There's just really nothing "Pretty" about a Wild Turkey. Nothing at all

deeky · Jan 20, 2013

I didn't think there was much to them until I started working with the feathers tying flies. Who knew there was so much irridescence in their feathers? I have a lot more appreciation for their looks. They are also quite skiddish. You did well to get close enough for these shots.

Rick58 · Jan 20, 2013

Yep, not a long trip from being a Turkey Buzzard. Nice shots BTW.

Ron Evers · Jan 20, 2013

Turkey vultures are more ugly.

I have not got close enough to get pics as nice as yours.

WesternGuy · Jan 20, 2013

Nice pics Scott. They are pretty ugly aren't they. How were you able to get so close to them?

WesternGuy

SCraig · Jan 20, 2013

deeky said:
I didn't think there was much to them until I started working with the feathers tying flies. Who knew there was so much irridescence in their feathers? I have a lot more appreciation for their looks. They are also quite skiddish. You did well to get close enough for these shots.

They are skittish, however they are also rather smart birds and this area is a state park to the know that they are safe up to a point. The EXIF shows that the focus distance was 25 meters, and I think some of the shots were closer than that since I had to pull the zoom back to about 400mm to get the whole bird in the frame

Rick58 said:
Yep, not a long trip from being a Turkey Buzzard. Nice shots BTW.

Ron Evers said:
Turkey vultures are more ugly.

I have not got close enough to get pics as nice as yours.

I've seen a lot of buzzards / vultures but never close enough to get a photograph or a good look at. If they are uglier than that I'm not sure I want to either.

SCraig · Jan 20, 2013

WesternGuy said:
Nice pics Scott. They are pretty ugly aren't they. How were you able to get so close to them?

WesternGuy

Thanks!

As I mentioned in the post above (I was writing it when you commented) they are in a state park and not all that shy. They know they are pretty safe from people so they don't normally run away. These quys were about 25 meters off the path (and park visitors are NOT allowed to get off the path unless they are willing to risk a $250 fine!) just grubbing around in the ground cover. I watched them for about 20 minutes or so and they weren't real concerned about all of the people stopping to watch them. I've seen some there several times before but normally much further up in the woods.

coastalconn · Jan 20, 2013

They sure are cute! Nice shots

flow · Jan 20, 2013

I don't know, I never thought of them as ugly. Factory farm turkeys are worse! Or a shoebill stork.
I do like the 1st one especially - caught all the colors in the feathers.

SCraig · Jan 20, 2013

coastalconn said:
They sure are cute! Nice shots

Glad you think they are cute. My lens refused to focus and I heard a tiny "noooooooooooooooooo" coming from it

SCraig · Jan 20, 2013

flow said:
I don't know, I never thought of them as ugly. Factory farm turkeys are worse! Or a shoebill stork.
I do like the 1st one especially - caught all the colors in the feathers.

I admit that the feathers are interesting and attractive in places, but that face is something only a mother could love

I've never seen a factory farm turkey or a shoebill stork. I think I'm glad I can say that

molested_cow · Jan 20, 2013

Wild turkeys are far from being the world's ugliest birds. Moscuvy ducks are pretty much duck with turkey heads, nothing pretty about them except when they were young. Vultures are mostly pretty ugly too. At least turkey have pretty feathers!

baturn · Jan 20, 2013

Their inner beauty comes out on the dinner table.

SCraig · Jan 21, 2013

molested_cow said:
Wild turkeys are far from being the world's ugliest birds. Moscuvy ducks are pretty much duck with turkey heads, nothing pretty about them except when they were young. Vultures are mostly pretty ugly too. At least turkey have pretty feathers!

Yeah, I've seen Muscovy ducks around here and they aren't pretty. I still think Wild Turkeys are uglier though.

baturn said:
Their inner beauty comes out on the dinner table.

I don't think I've ever had Wild Turkey (the food, not the alcoholic beverage!). I suspect you're right though.

sm4him · Jan 21, 2013

You've done an excellent job here bringing out their inner...err..ugliness. :lol:

I do like the way the iridescence of the feathers shows in your photos, but yeah...that face, ugh!!!

Turkeys and vultures are just hopelessly ugly. Not sure about vultures, but turkeys have the distinction of being ugly AND stupid. :lmao: