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Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
45.0024, -93.1246
Field Notes
Description:
Adult male turkeys, called "gobblers," are very large birds often weighing over 25 lbs. in our area. The males have dark iridescent body feathers that may be russet, green, brown, and black depending upon the quality of the light; wings are lighter and striped. Males have bare skin on their heads that change color depending upon their state of mind. Males also have a beard of specialized bristly feathers that protrudes from their breast. Females are smaller, have darker, duller heads and bodies and typically no beard. The photo above is that of a gobbler in display.
Habitat:
Turkeys range across the US and Mexico in habitat ranging from well-watered deciduous forest to arid open parklands and wooded river bottoms. They are becoming quite common in suburban areas, such as the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota where I live.
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