These two turkeys showed up at Boyce Thompson Arboretum on November 4, 2008. No one knew what kind of turkeys they were, whether they were native Merriams or ranch-raised Rio Grande turkeys.
Editor's Note: Arizona Game & Fish Department wild turkey expert Brian Wakeling reviewed my first few turkey photos and sent this reply by email:
"I would be hard-pressed to assign subspecies based on these photos...I'd say they are probably Merriam's because there are periodic sightings at Top of the World above Superior (not very doggone often) that have a natural travel corridor to country to the north where Merriam's are common."