Wild Turkeys in South Fork Canyon

These are wild turkeys or Meleagris gallopavo. There are two subspecies in Utah; the Rio Grande and the Merriam's. These are likely the Rio Grande subspecies because they were photographed in the South Fork of the Provo River Canyon. The day this photo was taken we saw two large flocks of turkeys with over 50 individual birds. Here is a description of the Rio Grande turkey from Wikipedia: Wild turkeys.

The Rio Grande wild turkey ranges through Texas to Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and was introduced to central and western California, as well as parts of a few northeastern states. It was also introduced to Hawaiʻi in the late 1950s. Population estimates for this subspecies are around 1,000,000. This subspecies, native to the central plain states, was first described in 1879, and has relatively long legs, better adapted to a prairie habitat. Its body feathers often have a green-coppery sheen. The tips of the tail and lower back feathers are a buff-to-very light tan color. Its habitats are brush areas next to streams, rivers or mesquite, pine and scrub oak forests. The Rio Grande turkey is gregarious.