The secondary feathers of a turkey’s wings, often referred to as oak or speckled turkey, are a mottled brown. While wild birds offer only a limited supply, there are still enough feathers available for various uses. These feathers are commonly employed in fly tying, notably for patterns such as the G.R. Hare’s Ear Nymph, where they are used for the wingcase; the Muddler Minnow, where they feature in both the wing and tail; and the March Brown wet fly, Governor wet fly, and Alder wet fly, all of which utilize them for wings. They also appear in stone fly nymphs as wingcases and in grasshopper patterns for wings. Additionally, turkey feathers are used in combination with other materials for wings on several Atlantic salmon featherwing flies. A notable historical example is the Borcher, a highly effective dry fly brought from Michigan to Pennsylvania in 1970, which features a body wrapped with turkey wing segments.
For optimal results, select prime mottled oak turkey feathers for applications such as Muddler wings, grasshoppers, wing cases, and salmon flies. Spraying them with a feather-tough fixative enhances their durability. Feathers are available in matched pairs and come in both light and dark variations.
« Back to Glossary Index