This tom turkey was following the fenceline this morning. He got to the river and when the dog threatened to chase he flew across the water to the other side. Wild tom (male) turkeys have a beard – that tuft of hair on its chest is known as a beard. Female turkeys don’t have beards.
It’s mating season for wild turkey in Minnesota. The female will lay 10-15 eggs, but not that many survive to adulthood… red fox and other predators take their toll.