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Difference between revisions of "Wild Turkey" - BirdForum Opus

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(Attempt to disguise copied text. Taxonomy expanded. Flight photo. Video link)
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[[Image:Wild_Turkey.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Male displaying<br />Photo by {{user|Screech|Screech}}]]
 
;[[:Category:Meleagris|Meleagris]] gallopavo
 
;[[:Category:Meleagris|Meleagris]] gallopavo
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[[Image:Wild_Turkey.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Male displaying.  Photo by Screech.]]
 
−
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
*Featherless, red head and throat.
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*Featherless, red head and throat
 
*Long red-orange to grey-blue legs
 
*Long red-orange to grey-blue legs
 
*Dark-brown to black body
 
*Dark-brown to black body
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*Long, dark, fan-shaped tail and glossy bronze wings.   
 
*Long, dark, fan-shaped tail and glossy bronze wings.   
 
*Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey.   
 
*Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and grey.   
−
 
−
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.
 
−
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
[[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. Feral birds found around the world.
 
[[United States]] and [[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.
 +
[[Image:714635WTurkeyFly.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Marysan|Marysan}}<br />Mesa Grande Road, Lake Henshaw, [[California]], February 2006]]
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
====Subspecies====
 
Six subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
 
Six subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
 
* ''M. g. silvestris'' - Central and eastern [[USA]]
 
* ''M. g. silvestris'' - Central and eastern [[USA]]
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* ''M. g. merriami'' - Western [[USA]]
 
* ''M. g. merriami'' - Western [[USA]]
 
* ''M. g. mexicana'' - Sierra Madre mountains, central [[Mexico]]
 
* ''M. g. mexicana'' - Sierra Madre mountains, central [[Mexico]]
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* ''M. g. gallopavo'' - Southern [[Mexico]]
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* ''M. g. gallopavo'' - Southern [[Mexico]] (Jalisco to Veracruz and south to Guerrero)
  
 +
Three additional subspecies, ''fera, onusta'' and ''ellioti'' are generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Woods, open woods, fields, pastures, and shrubby growth.
 
Woods, open woods, fields, pastures, and shrubby growth.
  
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[[Image:d07_1627.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Usual foraging appearance.  Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br/>Location: Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, [[California]], [[USA]].]]
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[[Image:d07_1627.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Usual foraging appearance<br />Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br />Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, [[California]], [[USA]].]]
 
==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.
−
*'''Diet:''' 80% grass, but also includes acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, roots and insects.  
+
====Diet====
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*'''Breeding:''' The nest is a shallow dirt depression covered with woody vegetation. 10-14 eggs are laid, usually one per day. The eggs are incubated for at least 28 days.  Males are polygamous, mating with as many females as they can.
+
80% grass, but also includes acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, roots and insects.  
−
*'''Voice:'''They make a variety of sounds, including the distinctive, loud ''gobble-gobble-gobble'', which carries for considerable distance.
+
====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==
 
==References==
−
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}
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#Avibase
 +
#Brevard Zoo
 +
#Wikipedia
 
{{Ref}}
 
{{Ref}}
−
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Meleagris+gallopavo}}
 
{{GSearch|Meleagris+gallopavo}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Meleagris]]
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<br />
 +
{{Video|Wild_Turkey}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Meleagris]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 10:01, 26 August 2011

Male displaying
Photo by Screech
Meleagris gallopavo

Identification

  • 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

United States and 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.

Photo by Marysan
Mesa Grande Road, Lake Henshaw, California, February 2006

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.

Usual foraging appearance
Photo by Gary Clark
Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, California, USA.

Behaviour

Forages in small flocks, moving continuously over fairly large areas in search for food.

Diet

80% grass, but also includes acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, roots and insects.

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

  1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
  1. Avibase
  2. Brevard Zoo
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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