Bird · GBIF taxon 9606290
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavoAlso known as American Wild Turkey, Common Turkey
Wild Turkeys roam open forests, fields, and pastures in social flocks, foraging on ground acorns, seeds, and insects. Males perform iconic strutting displays during spring courtship, fanning their tails and puffing feathers while gobbling to attract females. At night, these heavy birds fly up into mature tree canopies to roost safely away from ground predators.
DiurnalFlockingGround-dwelling
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Insects
- Seeds
Predators
- Coyotes
- Bobcats
- Great Horned Owls
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, severe winter weather, and nest predation
HabitatsOpen woodlands, forest edges, pastures, and agricultural fields
Life span3 to 5 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGalliformes
- FamilyPhasianidae
- GenusMeleagris
- SpeciesMeleagris gallopavo
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Toms can display aggression during breeding season; keep a respectful distance and avoid feeding wild flocks.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Maintain space during the spring breeding season when males can show territorial behavior.
- Listen At Dawn: Listen for loud gobbling echoing from mature tree roosts around sunrise.
- Do Not Feed: Avoid feeding wild flocks to prevent birds from becoming habituated or aggressive.
Predator Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) sprcrkwild, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member (c) John Krampl, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Krampl · cc-by
Family Member (c) Alexis Godin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Godin · cc-by
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