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Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavoOrder: GALLIFORMESFamily: Turkeys and Grouse (Phasianidae)
Wild Turkey Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Curved (up or down)
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: White
  • Forehead color: White
  • Nape Color: Bare blue and pink.
  • Throat color: Red
  • Cere color:
Splitbar
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Wild Turkey Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 94-117 cm (37-46 in)
  • Weight: 7391 g (260.8 oz)
  • Size: Size 5. Very Large (32 - 72 in)
  • Color: Blue, Red, Brown, Gray
  • Underparts: Dark brown with green iridescent sheen.
  • Upperparts: Dark brown with green iridescent sheen.
  • Back Pattern: Solid, Scaled or Scalloped
  • Belly Pattern: Solid, Scaled or Scalloped
  • Breast Pattern: Solid, Scaled or Scalloped

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift powerful flight for short distances with rapid wing beats and deep strokes.
  • Wingspan Range: 122-152 cm (48-60 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Barred
  • Upper Tail: Brown and black barred with black sub terminal band.
  • Under Tail: Brown and black barred with black sub terminal band.
  • Leg color: Pink
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Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Grouse (Phasianidae)_blue
Species Meleagris gallopavo
Length37 - 46 Inches
Wingspan54 Inches

Wild Turkey

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.

● Song: "cluk, cluk, cut, putt"

● Foraging & 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.

● Breeding & 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.

● Similar species: Wild Turkey: None in range.

Flight Pattern

Swift powerful flight for short distances with rapid wing beats and deep strokes.
Wild Turkey Body Illustration
● Range & 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.
BreedingPolygamous
PopulationRare to fairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight260.8 Ounces