Wild Turkey

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a bird native to North America, recognized as the heaviest member of the Galliformes order. It is also the progenitor of the domestic turkey, which originated from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey.

Identification Tips

Adult males, known as toms or gobblers, typically weigh between 5 to 11 kg and measure 100–125 cm in length. Females, or hens, are considerably smaller, weighing 2.5–5.4 kg and measuring 76 to 95 cm. Males boast a fan-shaped tail and iridescent bronze wings, with a featherless, reddish head, red throat, and red wattles. They also have a distinctive "beard," a tuft of coarse hair-like filaments growing from the breast. Females have duller brown and gray plumage.

Habitat

Wild turkeys are found in hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with openings such as pastures and fields. They adapt to various dense native plant communities, provided there is sufficient coverage and open space.

Distribution

The wild turkey's range covers the entire eastern half of the United States and extends into Canada. It has been introduced to various parts of the western United States and other regions.

Behaviour

Wild turkeys are agile fliers despite their size, usually flying close to the ground for short distances. They roost in trees at night and do not migrate. Socially, males are polygamous and perform a display known as strutting to attract females.

Song & Calls

The wild turkey has a repertoire of calls including gobbles, yelps, purrs, and clucks. The gobble can be heard up to a mile away, used by males to announce their presence.

Breeding

Males display to attract females and may court in groups. Females lay a clutch of 10–14 eggs, which are incubated for at least 28 days. Poults are precocial and leave the nest within 12–24 hours.

Similar Species

The wild turkey is unique in its size and plumage among North American birds, making it unlikely to be confused with other species.

Diet and Feeding

Wild turkeys are omnivorous, foraging on the ground or in low shrubs and trees. They consume a varied diet including acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, insects, and occasionally small reptiles and amphibians.

Conservation status

The wild turkey is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable and increasing population due to successful conservation and reintroduction efforts.