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Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Photo by MaryEvans2
Published on Project Noah
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30.4694, -83.6302

Field Notes

Description:

large bird with balding head and red gobbler.

Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green legs and a black body. Males, called toms or gobblers, have a large, featherless, reddish head, red throat, and red wattles on the throat and neck. The head has fleshy growths called caruncles. When males are excited, a fleshy flap on the bill expands, and this, the wattles and the bare skin of the head and neck all become engorged with blood, almost concealing the eyes and bill. The long fleshy object over a male's beak is called a snood. When a male turkey is excited, its head turns blue; when ready to fight, it turns red. Each foot has three toes, and males have a spur behind each of their lower legs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_turkey

Habitat:

forests, woods, my front and back yard :)

Notes:

Normally wild turkeys run as soon as they spot humans, but this huge flock that frequents my property doesn't seem to mind me standing nearby taking photos.

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