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Project Noah Nature School
Meleagris gallopavo
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.
Turkeys range across the US and Mexico in habitat ranging from well-watered deciduous forest, to arid open parklands and wooded river bottoms.
Spotted on Aug 19, 2012
Submitted on Aug 22, 2012
1 Comment
I was just now watching a flock of turkeys walk through our backyard. We are currently in a drought so are watering our lawn. We left the hose laying out over night and it so interesting to watch the turkeys when they encountered it. Some must have thought it was a snake as they approached it carefully, but with obvious curiosity. Then they would leap over it sometimes flying several feet in the air. One just pecked it hard and raked it with a claw then walked over it. Fascinating....