Instagram story viewer> @theduckdna> Tagged

duckDNA

@theduckdna

26.5K

followers

93

following

Official account of duckDNA - a partnership between Ducks Unlimited, University of Texas at El Paso, and hunters to study waterfowl genetics. 🦆🧬

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

She’s so cold! Yep that’s a hen. #thebilldontlie #suzy #henmallard #mallardmonday

326

3

Check out the turkey Nicholas shot in West Virginia during spring 2026. Although the contour feathers on the body and the rump feathers appear normal, the primary and secondary feathers on the wings are mostly white. Furthermore, several of the feathers in the tail fan have pale white hues in them, which gives the fan a truly unique appearance. Well, genetic testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this unique bird is 100% wild turkey. As you can see in the photo in the comments, this wild turkey clusters directly within the hundreds of samples we’ve tested from Eastern wild turkeys. This bird is partially leucistic, which is caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts melanin production. The disruption in melanin production causes various feathers on the bird, in this case the primaries and secondaries, to appear mostly white. As we are learning through wildturkeyDNA, partial leucism occurs in wild turkeys throughout many parts of their geographic range. Stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage color variations and evaluate population genetics in these magnificent birds.

274

7

This week, wildturkeyDNA rolls into the hills of West Virginia to determine the origin of the odd plumage in the turkey Nicholas shot during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow but drop your thoughts as to the origin of the unique plumage in this turkey in the comments below. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #conservation

350

8

6

0

When Tim harvested this turkey in Louisiana during spring 2026, he quickly reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we could help him determine the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. In short, Tim wondered whether he shot a smoke phase wild turkey, or a Heritage turkey that had escaped or been released. The tail feathers on this bird appear normal for a wild turkey, although the tips on both the tail feathers and rump feathers are lighter than you’d expect for the Eastern subspecies, which is what occurs in Louisiana. The secondary coverts on the wing are white with black tips, and the contour feathers on the body are also white with varying amounts of black in them. Well, genetics testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this turkey is 100% wild turkey. In the second image, you can clearly see that Tim’s bird clusters solidly with the hundreds of samples we have tested from Eastern wild turkeys. This is the second bird we’ve tested through wildturkeyDNA that appears to be a smoke phase wild turkey! Congratulations to Tim for harvesting such a unique wild turkey and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations and evaluate population genetics in these magnificent birds.
.
.
.
#science #research #turkeyhunting

464

16

This week wildturkeyDNA heads down to the bayou in Louisiana where Tim shot a unique looking turkey during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to what you think is the origin of the plumage on this bird? It is a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #research #wildturkeyhunting

885

11

When Zach shot this turkey in Idaho this past spring, he reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to help him figure out the origin of the white plumage in his bird.
.
As with samples from other solid white turkeys we’ve tested, we wanted to know whether Zach’s turkey was a true wild turkey, barnyard bird, a hybrid, or something else.
.
It turns out, genetic testing revealed that this bird is 100% wild turkey, and more specifically, is 100% Merriam’s wild turkey.
.
You can see clearly in the second image, Zach’s bird clusters directly within other samples we’ve tested from Merriam’s wild turkeys. This wild turkey is leucistic, which is caused by a genetic mutation that results in a loss of pigmentation in feathers. Because the mutation only affects melanin deposition in feathers, the other parts of the bird’s body appear normal.
.
Thus far, through wildturkeyDNA we’ve confirmed leucistic wild turkeys across multiple subspecies, and we’re continuing to dig into what the presence of leucistic birds means at a population scale.
.
We congratulate Zach on harvesting such a unique wild turkey and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage color variations and other aspects of population genetics in these magnificent birds.
.
.
.
#science #conservation #research #wildturkeyhunting

4k

20

This week wildturkeyDNA heads to Idaho, and an area with stunning views, to identify the origin of the solid white plumage in Zach’s turkey. We will reveal results tomorrow but drop your comments below as to what you think about the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #research #conservation

2k

11

First of the Season.

#Waterfowl #Ducks #Michigan #DuckHunting #WaterfowlSeason

44

0

Photo circa: 2019

But in all seriousness, can you even begin to imagine what it was like before our time. When the skies would be blacked out because of the amount of birds. Talk to your elders and they will tell you stories that somewhat resemble something similar to this. But man, what a time to be alive.
Conservation is key guys and girls. If we don’t do something, then no one will. Join your local @ducksunlimitedinc @calwaterfowl @deltawaterfowl This is how we preserve our way of life.

#duckhunting #wetlandsconservation #huntinglife #thegoodolddays #waterfowlhunting

16

0

I hate when people say “once in a lifetime” but for this case I’ll say it. Shooting a Mexican duck x Mottle duck hybrid in Idaho was nothing I ever ever expected or expect again! Thank you @theduckdna for solving the mystery and thank you @steveeccard and @marc_miller19 at @imperialtaxidermy for preserving this memory forever! I’ll never forget that hunt with @jackson.vickery06 and @ayden.beedle_ ! It was actually one of our least planned hunts and it turned into a fun foggy time resulting in this beautiful memory!

#hybridwaterfowl #duckhunting #waterfowltaxidermy #taxidermy #duckdna

635

5

Fly.

49

5