Adult male is very large, blackish-brown overall, with iridescent green on body, brown-tipped tail, black-and-white barred flight feathers, bare blue and red skin on head, and a tuft of long narrow feathers hanging from breast. Female is similar but more brown than black, and lacks colorful skin on head. Southwestern birds have white-tipped tail feathers.

Length: 116 (cm) Wingspan: 162 (cm)

Voice:

Loud, descending gobbles, and a variety of clucking notes.

Habitat:

Open woodlands, oaks, edges, occasionally suburbs.

Behavior:

Familiar and widespread, but often quite shy. Walks or runs along ground, rarely flies. Usually in groups, sometimes up to several dozen birds. Males display and gobble with fanned tail, drooped wings, and fluffed body feathers. Nest is a ground depression. Popularly hunted game bird. Released and introduced in many areas.

Feeding:

Forages on ground, walking slowly or scratching with feet. Omnivorous; eats a wide variety of acorns, seeds, berries, roots and other plant material, insects and other small organisms.