Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
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<birdfyi-bird slug="meleagris-gallopavo"></birdfyi-bird>About
North America's largest galliform (~6.6 kg), family Phasianidae, with iridescent bronze-green plumage and bare colorful head wattles. Native to eastern and central North America in forests, woodland edges, and agricultural areas. Omnivorous, feeding on mast, seeds, and invertebrates. The ancestor of domestic turkey. Least Concern; successfully reintroduced across much of its former North American range.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 89.8 cm | 35.4 in |
| Weight | 6550.0 g | 231.04 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Body dark bronze-iridescent with copper and greenish sheen; bare blue-and-red head skin; pendulous red wattles and blue caruncles; black breast beard; tail broadly barred rufous and black.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Native to eastern and central North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Found in mixed forest and open woodland. Widely reintroduced.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; eats acorns, seeds, berries, tubers, and invertebrates in North American forests and grasslands. Scratches leaf litter.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-28 days. Fledging: 14 days.
Clutch Size
8-26
Sound
Song
Iconic loud gobbling 'gobble-gobble-gobble' by males; far-carrying and resonant. Cluck series used for contact; yelps, purrs, and putts for various social functions. Alarm is a sharp 'putt' note.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Meleagris |
| Species | Meleagris gallopavo |
Distribution
Wild Turkey has been recorded in 20 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Wild Turkey eat?
Where does the Wild Turkey live?
Is the Wild Turkey endangered?
How does the Wild Turkey nest?
What does the Wild Turkey sound like?
How big is the Wild Turkey?
What order and family does the Wild Turkey belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family