What is a Wild Turkey?

The wild turkey, or Meleagris gallopavo, is a bird native to North America. It is a plump, mostly brown ground bird, though it can fly short distances. The turkey is a large bird and an adult male can be four feet (1.2 meters) long. The birds have a loud cry of "gobble" that is a telltale of their presence. The wild turkey is a popular game bird for North American hunters.

Turkeys have mostly brown feathers that end in black tips, with wing feathers that can be green to copper. Males and females do not have feathers on their throats and heads, but the male wild turkey has a large, fleshy red patch of skin at the throat called a wattle. Both sexes have a fleshy blob of skin at the front of the head called a snood. Wild turkeys exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females look different. Males are larger, show more coloring and have bristle-like feathers on their breasts. Male turkeys are called toms while females are referred to as hens.

The wild turkey is a member of the Phasianidae family. There are two subspecies, one in North America and one in southern Mexico. The birds can live in varied habitats but are often found near oak forests, as acorns are one of their preferred foods. The birds also spend the nights in trees and are therefore usually found near the forest's edge if not inside it.

Turkeys get most of their food on or near the ground. They will eat fallen tree nuts, fruit, some vegetation, and occasionally insects. Growing chicks rely more on insects in the diet. In the wild, turkeys can be observed scratching the ground debris in search of seeds.

The wild turkey male engages in competitive displays in a group called a lek to attract females. Male turkeys have multiple partners and do not help to build a nest or raise chicks. Females build crude nests in the ground; these are sometimes no more than a shallow depression. Females can lay up to around fifteen eggs, which are about twice the size of chicken eggs.

The female wild turkey raises the brood, sometimes in groups with other hens and their chicks. Male chicks spend their first year with their mother, while female chicks become independent in the first year. Wild turkeys may spend their lives in the same area if there is sufficient food and shelter.

Wild turkeys are native North American birds, known for their impressive size and plumage. Unlike domesticated turkeys, which are bred for consumption and often have white feathers, wild turkeys have dark, iridescent feathers and are more agile. They can fly short distances and roost in trees, skills that most domesticated turkeys lack due to selective breeding for larger breast meat.

Wild turkeys thrive in diverse habitats, including hardwood forests, grasslands, and swamps. They prefer areas with a combination of open space and cover. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, restoration efforts have expanded their range from 18 states to 49, demonstrating their adaptability to various environments across North America.

Wild turkeys are omnivores with a varied diet that changes seasonally. They forage for nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and small reptiles. During the spring, they may eat tender green shoots and buds, while in the fall, they focus on acorns and nuts, which provide the energy needed for the colder months.

Male wild turkeys, known as toms or gobblers, are larger than females (hens) and have more colorful plumage, a beard of modified feathers on their chest, and spurs on their legs. Their heads are also more colorful, with red, blue, and white hues, especially during the breeding season. Hens are generally duller in color, aiding in camouflage.

The gobble of a wild turkey is a loud, distinctive call that males use primarily during the spring to attract mates and establish dominance. This call can be heard up to a mile away and is a key aspect of their mating ritual. The gobble can also inadvertently alert predators, so it's a calculated risk for the turkey.

Wild turkey populations were once at risk due to overhunting and habitat destruction, but conservation efforts have been remarkably successful. Initiatives like habitat management and regulated hunting seasons have helped their numbers rebound significantly. The National Wild Turkey Federation continues to work on habitat conservation and management to ensure the species' long-term survival.