Breeding Location:
Forest, Grasslands, open
Breeding Type:
Polygamous
Breeding Population:
Rare to fairly common
Egg Color:
White or buff marked or spotted with brown or red
Number of Eggs:
8 - 20
Incubation Days:
27 - 28
Egg Incubator:
Female
Nest Material:
Lined with grasses and leaves.
Migration:
Nonmigratory
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Overview
Wild Turkey: Large, ground-walking bird, iridescent dark brown overall with black and green bars, small, featherless, blue head that changes color according to mood, and red throat wattles. Breast beard (modified feathers) is black. The legs have spurs. It is the largest game bird in North America.
Range and Habitat
Wild Turkey: Resident in much of the southern U.S. from Arizona east, as far north as New England. Introduced to many western states, including California. Inhabits oak and pine forests; young birds need open area where they can forage for insects.
Breeding and Nesting
Wild Turkey: Eight to twenty white or buff eggs, marked or spotted with brown or red, are laid in a shallow ground depression lined with a few leaves and grass and built at the base of a tree or in dense vegetation. Incubation ranges from 27 to 28 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Wild Turkey: Feeds on seeds, acorns, leaves, grains, berries, and insects. Young birds feed primarily on insects for the first few weeks of life, and then shift to a diet similar to that of adults.
Readily Eats
Berries, Cracked Corn
Vocalization
Wild Turkey: Makes gobbling calls similar to those of domestic turkey. Also utters clucking calls "cluk, cluk, cut, putt."
Similar Species
Wild Turkey: None in range.
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