- Common Name:
- Wild Turkey
- Scientific Name:
- Meleagris gallopavo
- Type:
- Birds
- Diet:
- Omnivore
- Group Name:
- Rafter
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- 3 to 4 years
- Size:
- Body: 3.6 to 3.8 feet; wingspan: 4.1 to 4.8 feet
- Weight:
- 5.5 to 18.8 pounds
- IUCN Red List Status:
- Least concern
- Current Population Trend:
- Increasing
The turkey was Benjamin Franklin's choice for the United States's national bird.
Significance in American History
The noble fowl was a favored food of Native Americans. When Europeans arrived, they made it one of only two domestic birds native to the Americas—the Muscovy duck shares the distinction.
Yet by the early 20th century, wild turkeys no longer roamed over much of their traditional range. They had been wiped out by hunting and the disappearance of their favored woodland habitat.
Habitat and Diet
Wild turkeys typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in grasslands and swamps. They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and salamanders.
Population Rebound
Wild turkey reintroduction programs began in the 1940s, and the birds were relocated to areas where populations had been decimated but woodlands were recovering. Such efforts worked so well that wild turkeys now live in areas where they may not have occurred when Europeans first reached the Americas. Today, flocks are also found in Hawaii, Europe, and New Zealand.
Male Characteristics
Only male turkeys display the ruffled feathers, fanlike tail, bare head, and bright beard commonly associated with these birds. They also gobble with a distinctive sound that can be heard a mile away.
Reproduction
Females lay 4 to 17 eggs, and feed their chicks after they hatch—but only for a few days. Young turkeys quickly learn to fend for themselves as part of mother/child flocks that can include dozens of animals. Males take no role in the care of young turkeys.
Domestication
Domestic turkeys have white-tipped tails because they are the descendants of a Mexican subspecies that was taken to Europe for domestication in the early 16th century. The feature distinguishes them from most modern wild turkeys, though captive diet, lifestyle, and breeding have caused other physical discrepancies.