The Crimson Dawn, also known as the Black Winged Bronze, has not been in circulation in the UK for many years.
Some are known to be in one private collection, but these are a commercial broad breasted variety and are not capable of natural mating. The standard shaped variety was almost certainly extinct as a pure breed in the UK until I recreated them from various crosses. I eventually hatched some pure stags in 2012, but no females. I hatched some pure female poults in 2013 breeding season, but unfortunately, they flew out of their fox proof enclosure to nest in the field next door and were never seen again, so the line was lost. If anyone in the UK has any Crimson Dawn Turkeys, I would like to hear from them.
Photo: Mike Sumner
The rather sketchy Standard below appears in the 1997 5th edition of the PCGB Standards. It was not reviewed for the current PCGB publication, presumably because no birds had been in circulation since the early 1990s.
Naturally mated birds were produced again in 2012 (photo above) but are very scarce.
The Standard
The Crimson Dawn or Black-winged Bronze: rarely seen.
Classification: Heavy
Plumage of both sexes: As in Bronze, except that the primary flight feathers are black, the secondary flights black with white tips, and some white marking is permitted on the shoulders. All other aspects as in Bronze.
Weights
Stag 13.60-18.14 kg (30-40 lb)
Young stag 11.33-15.87 kg (25-35 lb)
Hen 8.16-11.97 kg (l8-26 lb)
Young hen 4.98-9.97 kg (l l-22 lb)