Astronaut turkey in a round helmet with a jetpackThe jetpack box covers the tail. The red wattle shows through the visor.
Builder turkey in a hard hat and a bright vestA vest and a tool belt hide the feathers. The beak shows under the brim of the hat.
Chef turkey in a tall hat, holding a whiskA big apron wraps around the back and hides the feathers. The beak pokes over the collar.
Detective turkey with a long coat and a magnifying glassThe coat hides everything but the feet. A trail of bird tracks follows behind.
Doctor turkey carrying a clipboardA white coat reaches the floor and covers the tail. Scaly legs show when it walks.
Farmer turkey in overalls and a straw hatOveralls and a hay bale hide the tail. The hat sits on a bare, bumpy head.
Firefighter turkey with a hose and a wide helmetA long coat hangs over the tail. Bird feet stick out below the hem.
Mail carrier turkey with a satchel of envelopesThe satchel hangs over the tail. One feather sticks out among the envelopes.
Painter turkey with a beret, a brush and a paletteA smock covers the tail. The tips of two feathers have dipped in the paint.
Pilot turkey in goggles, scarf blowing backCardboard wings cover the tail. The snood dangles between the goggles.
Scuba diver turkey in a mask, tank and flippersThe air tank covers the back and tail. The mask fogs up around a beak.
Teacher turkey holding chalk and an appleA long cardigan hides the tail. The wattle hangs over the collar like a red tie.
Animals 12
Bumblebee turkey with a striped middleA yellow and black top covers the body and paper wings cover the tail. Far too big for a bee.
Butterfly turkey with spotted wingsCard wings stand in front of the tail fan. The body in the middle is much too round.
Cat turkey with whiskers, pointed ears and a ball of yarnA long sock over the feathers makes one cat tail. The feet are bird feet, not paws.
Cow turkey in a patched blanketThe blanket covers the tail and a bell hangs at the neck. Two of the four legs are missing.
Flamingo turkey balancing on one pink legPaint the tail pink and fold it flat. The neck is right but the beak is too short.
Ladybug turkey with a red shell and black dotsA round red shell covers the back and tail. Two long legs stick out underneath.
Lion turkey with a mane made of tail feathersMove the feathers around the face as a mane, so no tail is left. The roar comes out as a gobble.
Owl turkey with big paper eyes, perched on a branchFold the fan down into a short owl tail. The long neck gives it away.
Peacock turkey with an eye spot painted on every featherNo need to hide the tail: paint it blue and green. The wattle is the wrong color for a peacock.
Penguin turkey in a black cape, white down the frontA black cape covers the tail. Penguins do not have a red wattle.
Shark turkey with a fin on its backA gray suit covers the feathers and a fin stands where the tail was. Sharks do not walk.
Zebra turkey striped from beak to toeStripes on every feather turn the tail into a mane. It is still a zebra with a beak.
Food 12
Bunch of grapes turkeyPurple circles cover the body and the tail. The stalk on top is a neck with a beak.
Carton of fries turkeyYellow paper strips stand in front of the tail. One of the fries has a beak.
Corncob turkey wrapped in a green paper huskYellow kernels in rows cover the body, and the tail feathers, painted green, pass for the husk. The cob has a beak.
Cupcake turkey topped with one candleA paper case hides the body and frosting covers the tail. The candle on top has a beak.
Doughnut turkey with sprinklesThe tail hides behind the ring, sprinkles and all. A head looks out through the hole.
Gumball machine turkey with a round glass topColored balls cover the fanned tail and turn it into the globe. Feet show under the base.
Pineapple turkey with a leafy crownCrisscross the body in yellow and let the tail feathers be the green crown. Two eyes blink between the leaves.
Pizza slice turkey with round toppingsA cardboard triangle covers the front and the tail. Two legs hang out of the crust.
Popcorn turkey up to its neck in kernelsThe turkey stands in a striped box and popcorn is piled over the tail. Two eyes peek out.
Strawberry turkey with painted-on seedsA red berry shape covers the body. The leafy cap on top is the tail feathers, painted green. Two feet stick out below.
Sundae turkey with sauce and a waferThe body sits in a paper dish and scoops are piled over the tail. A beak sticks out of the top one.
Taco turkey with paper lettuce and cheeseA folded shell wraps the body and lettuce hides the feathers. The head pops out of one end.
Holidays 12
Christmas tree turkey with a star and paper ornamentsPaint the fanned tail green and hang ornaments on it. The trunk has toes.
Firework turkey for the Fourth of JulyThe tail feathers are the burst, painted red, white and blue. The rocket has feet.
Ghost turkey under a white sheetThe sheet covers the tail and everything else. A beak pokes out between the eye holes.
Gift box turkey with ribbon around all four sidesThe box hides the body and the tail. Two feet stick out of the bottom and two eyes blink under the bow.
Jack-o'-lantern turkey with a carved smileAn orange circle covers the body and tail. The stalk on top is a neck.
Leprechaun turkey with an orange beardA green coat hides the tail. The buckled hat sits on a bare head.
New Year turkey in a cone hat with streamersStreamers cover the tail. The party horn fits the beak a little too well.
Reindeer turkey with paper antlers and a jingle bellA brown blanket covers the tail. The antlers are tied on with string that shows.
Scarecrow turkey with straw at the cuffsA patched coat stuffed with straw covers the tail. Scarecrows do not usually gobble.
Snowman turkey covered in cotton ballsCotton hides every feather. A paper carrot sits right over the beak and wobbles.
Spring bunny turkey with a basket of eggsA cotton ball is stuck over the folded tail. Tall paper ears sit on a bare head.
Valentine turkey behind a big paper heartThe heart covers the body and tail, lace edge and all. A head peeks over the top.
Sports and hobbies 12
Ballerina turkey in a tutuThe tutu sits right over the tail feathers. The ballet slippers are laced onto bird feet.
Baseball turkey with a cap and a mittA striped uniform covers the tail. The cap keeps sliding off a bare head.
Basketball turkey in a jersey and a headbandThe jersey hangs over the tail. The dribble is done with a wing.
Camper turkey with a backpack and a mapThe backpack covers the tail. The map is held upside down in one wing.
Cheerleader turkey with two pom-pomsThe tail feathers are split in two and held as pom-poms. The cheer comes out as a gobble.
Gardener turkey with a watering can and a sun hatA flowerpot hides the lower half. The tail feathers pass for tall leaves, almost.
Hockey goalie turkey behind a mask and padsBig leg pads and a jersey cover the feathers. The mask has a gap cut for a beak.
Rock star turkey with a guitar and star-shaped glassesA spangled cape covers the tail. The guitar strap sits across a very round chest.
Skier turkey in goggles with two polesA puffy jacket hides the tail. The skis are strapped to bird feet.
Soccer turkey in a plain jersey and long socksBaggy shorts and a jersey cover the feathers. The ball is stuck on a claw.
Surfer turkey with a board and a flowered shirtThe surfboard stands behind and covers the tail. Feathers poke out of the sleeves.
Swimmer turkey in a cap and a float ringThe float ring sits over the tail. Wet feathers show around its edge.
Storybook 12
Alien turkey with antennae and a paper-plate saucerGreen paint covers every feather and the saucer sits over the tail. The landing is a waddle.
Dragon turkey with paper wings and a spiky backThe tail feathers are the spikes, painted green. Dragons do not have a wattle.
Fairy turkey with wings and a flower hatThe wings stand in front of the tail. The wand is held in a claw.
Garden gnome turkey with a red hat and a white beardA blue coat hides the tail. The beard hides the wattle, nearly.
Hero turkey in a cape and a maskThe cape covers the tail. The mask cannot hide the snood hanging over the beak.
Knight turkey in cardboard armor with a shieldThe shield is held behind, over the tail. The plume on the helmet is one real feather.
Mermaid turkey with a shiny fish tailWrap the legs in a fish tail and fold the feathers into its fin. Mermaids do not have beaks.
Pirate turkey with an eye patch and a paper hatA long coat hides the tail. The parrot on its shoulder looks like a cousin.
Queen turkey in a crown and a long robeThe robe trails over the tail. The crown keeps slipping down a small bare head.
Robot turkey built from boxes and bottle capsA big box covers the body and the tail. Feathers stick out of the arm holes.
Unicorn turkey with a paper horn and a rainbow tailPaint each tail feather a different color for the rainbow tail. The taped-on horn sits right above a beak.
Wizard turkey in a pointed hat with a star wandA robe to the floor covers the feathers. The long beard is glued on over the wattle.
How it works
Turkey drawing disguise ideas are for the school project where a paper turkey is dressed up so nobody picks it for Thanksgiving dinner. Each disguise here says what hides the tail feathers and what gives the turkey away.
Read the full guide
Hide the tail first
The fanned tail is what makes a turkey look like a turkey, so every disguise starts there. Cover it with a cape, a backpack or a surfboard, fold it flat, or turn it into part of the costume: a peacock's train, a lion's mane, a pineapple's crown.
Leave one clue showing
The joke is that the disguise nearly works. Keep one thing in view: the red wattle under a helmet, bird feet below a long coat, a gobble where a roar should be. Draw the turkey first, then the costume over it.
On a printed turkey sheet, start with the parts that must be covered: the tail fan first, then the body.
Questions and answers
What are good ideas to disguise a turkey?
Ones where the tail becomes part of the costume: peacock turkey with an eye spot painted on every feather, pineapple turkey with a leafy crown, Christmas tree turkey with a star and paper ornaments. The feathers do the work.
What is the easiest turkey disguise?
Choose Easy in the box under the button. Ghost turkey under a white sheet is one shape with two eye holes and a beak, and doughnut turkey with sprinkles is a ring with a head looking through it.
How do I draw the turkey before I disguise it?
A round body, a fan of long feathers behind it, a small bare head with a red wattle, and two bird feet. Draw the costume over the top, then erase the turkey lines it covers.
Can the disguise be made instead of drawn?
Yes. Many of the ideas name plain materials, such as cotton balls for a snowman, a cone hat for New Year or boxes for a robot, so they can be glued onto the paper turkey as well as drawn.