Can Turkeys see color?

[T***@webtv.net]

Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

[Buzz Chandler]

Post by T***@webtv.net
Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

Birds see color

[Natman]

Post by T***@webtv.net
Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

The first time I saw turkeys on my hunting site, I was hunting deer
and had a blaze vest and hat. A flock came within 20 feet and ignored
me. I don't know if they could SEE the orange, but they certainly
didn't CARE about it as long as it didn't move.

[Boffer]

Post by Natman

Post by T***@webtv.net
Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

The first time I saw turkeys on my hunting site, I was hunting deer
and had a blaze vest and hat. A flock came within 20 feet and ignored
me. I don't know if they could SEE the orange, but they certainly
didn't CARE about it as long as it didn't move.

I will second that, I was glassing a ravine (deer hunting) in N. Ca. just
below the Oregon boarder. Blaze orange cap atop my head, I had a flock move
around me. At one point I was sitting in the center of a flock of at least
15 birds. All hens and jakes, the closest being within 10 yards. They didn't
even look at me. I didn't move because the were 4 does in the ravine and it
was early rut. Figured there had to be a buck in there somewhere. I was
right, but had to wait for the turkeys to move off to get a shot without
spooking them and the buck. After I took the shot the turkey's only
scattered momentarily and regrouped about 100 yards. away. Maybe toms are
more skiddish, but here in Cali. you can take either in the fall.

[Marc Reeves]

99% of birds can see color quite well. However, whats more important is
movement. They are geared to see the movement of a preditor.

[Musashi]

Post by T***@webtv.net
Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

They, along with most birds, have eyesight far far better than that of a human.
Yes they can pick out your face which is why face camo or a face netting is
a good idea. Birds are very good with colors, being able to see more shades
of any given color than we can. I've read that a turkey can see the white breath
on a cold morning from a hunter across a field at 100 yards. Don't know if
that's true but what they lack in a sense of smell (as in a deer) they make up in sight.
I save my hunter orange for when I'm on my way out of the woods.

[Donut]

Post by T***@webtv.net
Or only black, white & gray like deer? I know they have very sharp
vision and can pick out your face and eyes. I was just wondering if
they can see Hunter orange, it seems like sometimes they can't. Anyone
know for sure? Thanks. Tom.

I read through the other replies, and would agree with them.

I think there is a reason that in most cases, the males of most bird
species are brightly colored. It's to attract a mate. If the females
couldn't see colors, what would the point be?

Nature, in all her wisdom, usually does things for a reason. And
conversely, doesn't do things for no reason. If a female bird couldn't
see color, there shouldn't be any need for the male to use it to try
to attract a mate.

Don