Turkey, Pheasant (Family Meleagrididae)

A turkey is either of two living species of large birds in the Genus
Meleagris. One species, Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as
the wild turkey, is native to the forests of North America. The other
species, Meleagris ocellata, known as the ocellated turkey, is native
to the forests of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

The domestic turkey is a descendant of the wild turkey and features
prominently in the menu of the U.S. and Canadian holidays of
Thanksgiving and that of Christmas in many countries.

Turkeys are classed in taxonomic Order Galliformes. Within this
order they are relatives of grouse. Turkeys have a distinctive fleshy
wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak, and a fleshy pro-

tuberance that hangs from the top of its beak called a snood. With
wingspans of 1.5–1.8 metres (4.9–5.9 ft), the turkeys are by far the
largest birds in the open forests in which they live. As with many
Galliform species the female (hen) is smaller than the male (tom or
gobbler) and is much less colorful.

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