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Turkey!

Meleagris gallopavo

Photo by KatieHenson
Published on Project Noah
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38.6752, -121.148

Field Notes

Description:

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.
The male is substantially larger than the female, and his feathers have areas of red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence. Females, called hens, have feathers that are duller overall, in shades of brown and gray.

Habitat:

Wild turkeys are omnivorous, foraging on the ground or climbing shrubs and small trees to feed. They prefer eating hard mast such as acorns, nuts, and various trees, including hazel, chestnut, hickory, and pinyon pine as well as various seeds, berries such as juniper, and roots and insects.

Its habitats are brush areas next to streams, rivers or mesquite, pine and scrub oak forests.

Notes:

Non-native introduced species in California.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

Nice spotting and amazing description. Welcome to Project Noah!
Photographed
PublishedApril 21, 2012

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