Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo

Wild Turkeys are large birds that live year-round along forest edges and in clearings across most of the United States. Wild Turkeys disappeared from many U.S. woods but returned after people moved wild birds into suitable habitat. The familiar Thanksgiving turkey descends from this wild species.

Appearance

Appearance: This large bird has a small bare head, long legs, and a broad rounded tail. A displaying male fans his tail and lowers his wings.

Look-alikes

Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus

A pheasant is smaller and more slender, with a longer tail and shorter legs. A Wild Turkey is bulkier, with a broad, rounded tail.

Why they get mixed upBoth are large ground birds seen around fields.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Open forests
Wooded field edges
Range: Wild birds live year round in 49 states, excluding Alaska, and in parts of Mexico and southern Canada. Look along forest edges and clearings.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Apr–May
97,031 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: It eats acorns, other nuts, seeds, berries, and insects.
Activity: It usually forages on the ground but flies into trees to roost at night.

Life cycle

Nest: The female makes a shallow nest on the ground among dead leaves.
Clutch size: 4–17 eggs
Incubation: 25–31 days

Name and classification

About the name: Domestic turkeys are a form of this species. Eastern and Rio Grande Wild Turkeys are regional .

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo