Rio/Merriam's Hybrid in Colorado Front Range?

[Upwolf]

Over the last several seasons I've come across a lot of birds that don't have true white tail fan tips in Colorado's Front range. Wondering if anyone has been submitting to the Wild turkey DNA thing or have any insight if these are hybrid birds or just a genetic variation.

 

[juju]

Not all Merriam's are whiteys. The interesting part to me about different subspecies is habitat and behavior. I've seen Easterns and Osceolas in the same woods. There's no question which is which when you see a pure strain bird.

 

[Upwolf]

Not all Merriam's are whiteys. The interesting part to me about different subspecies is habitat and behavior. I've seen Easterns and Osceolas in the same woods. There's no question which is which when you see a pure strain bird.

Definitely true. I'm just curious on where the overlap starts in Colorado and if that overlap is creeping west? East? or if there is limited interaction.

 

[LongWayAround]

I have always been of the mind that our northern front range birds are hybrids.

I killed a bird this season that looks very Rio. On my hike out, I called in another gobbler- straight white Merriam looking bird.

 

[LongWayAround]

This year's.




Last year's.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Killed a pure white way out east and have killed a bird at 9000 ft in central co that was pretty brown/ tan

 

[Upwolf]

Sounds like it just varies bird to bird in these hills. I suppose I'll still consider them Merriam's for the time being.

 

[Triggerfinger]

I think the others said it pretty well. I called up a flock - bunch of jakes and hens - last season around 8800ft elevation and 6 were buff tipped while 2 hens and 1 jake were mostly white tipped (not quite snow-white).

 

[justin davis]

They can vary forsure. But I believe for the pure merriams the southwest corner of the state seems to have them. Always very very white tip birds. Front range not so much

 

[100percent]

Killed a pure white way out east and have killed a bird at 9000 ft in central co that was pretty brown/

That white one was some settlers thanksgiving delight! What happened to old Tom? Damn coyotes!