(Imp sizes. Picture of female. References updated) |
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;[[:Category:Meleagris|Meleagris]] gallopavo | ;[[:Category:Meleagris|Meleagris]] gallopavo | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | Male 100–125 cm (39½-49¼ in); Female 76–95 cm (30-37½ in) | ||
*Featherless, red head and throat | *Featherless, red head and throat | ||
*Long red-orange to grey-blue legs | *Long red-orange to grey-blue legs | ||
| Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
*Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey. | *Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:Untitled shoot-054.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|blue185jay|blue185jay}}<br />[[Tennessee]], [[USA]], June 2014]] | ||
Southernmost [[Canada]], [[United States]] to central [[Mexico]]. Feral birds found around the world. | Southernmost [[Canada]], [[United States]] to central [[Mexico]]. Feral birds found around the world. | ||
Due to hunting and other pressures, wild turkeys were in serious decline at the beginning of the 20th Century, but with conservation measures and management, have rebounded to a healthy population. They are still hunted throughout the U.S. | Due to hunting and other pressures, wild turkeys were in serious decline at the beginning of the 20th Century, but with conservation measures and management, have rebounded to a healthy population. They are still hunted throughout the U.S. | ||
| − | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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Three additional subspecies, ''fera, onusta'' and ''ellioti'' are generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | Three additional subspecies, ''fera, onusta'' and ''ellioti'' are generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | [[Image:714635WTurkeyFly.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Marysan|Marysan}}<br />Mesa Grande Road, Lake Henshaw, [[California]], February 2006]] | ||
Woods, open woods, fields, pastures, and shrubby growth. | Woods, open woods, fields, pastures, and shrubby growth. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Forages in small flocks, moving continuously over fairly large areas in search for food. | Forages in small flocks, moving continuously over fairly large areas in search for food. | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
Grass and sedges, berries, seeds, insects and mast, depending on seasonal availability. | Grass and sedges, berries, seeds, insects and mast, depending on seasonal availability. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | The nest is a shallow scrape covered with woody vegetation. The eggs are usually laid at a rate of 1 per day, the clutch consisting of 10-14 eggs. Incubation lasts for at least 28 days. Males are polygamous, mating with as many females as they can. | + | The nest is a shallow scrape covered with woody vegetation. The eggs are usually laid at a rate of 1 per day, the clutch consisting of 10-14 eggs. Incubation lasts for at least 28 days. Males are [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polygamous]], mating with as many females as they can. |
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
They make a variety of sounds, including the distinctive, loud ''gobble-gobble-gobble'', which carries for considerable distance. | They make a variety of sounds, including the distinctive, loud ''gobble-gobble-gobble'', which carries for considerable distance. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#Avibase |
#Brevard Zoo | #Brevard Zoo | ||
#Wikipedia | #Wikipedia | ||
| + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015) | ||
{{Ref}} | {{Ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 01:38, 26 October 2015
- Meleagris gallopavo
Identification
Male 100–125 cm (39½-49¼ in); Female 76–95 cm (30-37½ in)
- Featherless, red head and throat
- Long red-orange to grey-blue legs
- Dark-brown to black body
- The head has fleshy growths.
- Males have red wattles on the throat and neck and rear spurs on their lower legs.
- Long, dark, fan-shaped tail and glossy bronze wings.
- Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey.
Distribution
Southernmost Canada, United States to central Mexico. Feral birds found around the world.
Due to hunting and other pressures, wild turkeys were in serious decline at the beginning of the 20th Century, but with conservation measures and management, have rebounded to a healthy population. They are still hunted throughout the U.S.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Six subspecies are recognized:[1]
- M. g. silvestris - Central and eastern USA
- M. g. osceola - Florida (local)
- M. g. intermedia - North Texas to east-central Mexico
- M. g. merriami - Western USA
- M. g. mexicana - Sierra Madre mountains, central Mexico
- M. g. gallopavo - Southern Mexico (Jalisco to Veracruz and south to Guerrero)
Three additional subspecies, fera, onusta and ellioti are generally considered invalid[2]
Habitat
Woods, open woods, fields, pastures, and shrubby growth.
Behaviour
Forages in small flocks, moving continuously over fairly large areas in search for food.
Diet
Grass and sedges, berries, seeds, insects and mast, depending on seasonal availability.
Breeding
The nest is a shallow scrape covered with woody vegetation. The eggs are usually laid at a rate of 1 per day, the clutch consisting of 10-14 eggs. Incubation lasts for at least 28 days. Males are polygamous, mating with as many females as they can.
Vocalisation
They make a variety of sounds, including the distinctive, loud gobble-gobble-gobble, which carries for considerable distance.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Brevard Zoo
- Wikipedia
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Wild Turkey. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Wild_Turkey
External Links
