Wild Turkey

Description:

Wild Turkey hen.

Habitat:

This one was seen alone about halfway into the Zion Lodge along the Virgin River.

Notes:

Research shows that wild turkeys may have been, hundreds of years back, a native species in Utah. Turkey bones, feather blankets and early American rock art showing turkey-like images have been found in areas of Utah. The wild turkeys seen in Zion National Park are a result of reintroduction efforts carried out since the 1950's, especially with the subspecies called Merriam's wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami). The Merriam's wild turkey ranges through the Rocky Mountains and the neighboring prairies of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, as well as much of the high mesa country of New Mexico, Arizona, southern Utah and The Navajo Nation, with number from 334,460 to 344,460 birds. The subspecies has also been introduced into Oregon. The initial releases of Merriam's turkeys in 1961 resulted in establishing a remnant population of Merriam's turkeys along the east-slope of Mt. Hood and natural immigration of turkeys from Idaho has established Merriam's flocks along the eastern border of Oregon. Merriam's wild turkeys live in ponderosa pine and mountainous regions. The subspecies was named in 1900 in honor of Clinton Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. The tail and lower back feathers have white tips and purple and bronze reflections.