
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.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
05/24/13 | dawn villaescusa, OR | # |
02/08/13 | Billy Bump, MS | 12 |
01/04/13 | Billy Bump, MS | 12 |
05/01/09 | Billy Bump, MS | 1 |
02/18/13 | Bryan Ward, WV | # |
07/23/12 | Jackson Scheerer, WI | # |
06/08/12 | Jackson Scheerer, WI | 1 |
06/11/12 | Dave Irons, OR | 5 |
05/13/12 | Matthew Cross | # |
04/04/12 | Bryan Ward, WV | # |
04/08/12 | Caleb Arrison, PA | 3 |
03/31/12 | Joshua Kelver | # |
12/31/11 | Marjolein Schat, NJ | # |
12/26/11 | Joe Blowers, OR | # |
11/13/11 | Bob Archer | 18 |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Jackson Scheerer added Wild Turkey to their En Route to Campbellsport smart list | 7/24/2012 at 8:54AM |
Jackson Scheerer added Wild Turkey to their My House in Campbellsport, WI smart list | 7/01/2012 at 6:59PM |
Caleb Arrison added Wild Turkey to their Fayette County smart list | 4/09/2012 at 10:03PM |
Joshua Kelver added Wild Turkey to their Washington, PA smart list | 4/01/2012 at 3:57PM |
Bob Archer added Wild Turkey to their Baskett Slough NWR smart list | 11/13/2011 at 8:57PM |
Dan Mitchell added Wild Turkey to their San Juan Island, Washington smart list | 7/31/2011 at 5:03PM |