wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 34 inches

• Very large, small-headed, round-winged, long-tailed, ground-dwel-             ling bird

• Unfeathered bluish head and reddish throat

• Dark breast, belly and upper back

• Iridescent bronze and green wings

• Barred primaries

• Dark, fan-shaped tail with brown or buff band at tip

Adult male:

• Larger head with wattle at throat, caruncled forehead, and projection       behind the bill

• More iridescent plumage

Similar species:

Too large to be confused with any other bird.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Permanent resident
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 8-15
Length of Incubation: 27-28 days
Days to Fledge: 6-10
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: Primarily plant matter; lesser quantities of insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May R
      Su - Summer: June, July, August R
      Fall: September, October, November R

      Winter: December, January, February R

 

 

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