Wild Turkeys

Description:

Large mostly ground dwelling bird with mainly black body with shades of brown feathers. Head is blue gray with some individual birds having red or darker blue markings. Birds with a “beard” are known as “Toms” (male turkeys) while the beardless birds are hens (hens) or immature Toms.

Habitat:

Woodlands, fields, pastures

Notes:

Once native, these birds becake absent from the state. Due the hard work of the Illinois DNR and responsible resource management, these birds are now common throughout Illinois.