Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) (M)
“Wild Turkeys are very large, plump birds with long legs, wide, rounded tails, and a small head on a long, slim neck….. Turkeys travel in flocks and search on the ground for nuts, berries, insects, and snails. They use their strong feet to scratch leaf litter out of the way. In early spring, males gather in clearings to perform courtship displays. They puff up their body feathers, flare their tails into a vertical fan, and strut slowly while giving a characteristic gobbling call. At night, turkeys fly up into trees to roost in groups….. Wild Turkeys live in mature forests, particularly nut trees such as oak, hickory, or beech, interspersed with edges and fields. You may also see them along roads and in woodsy backyards. After being hunted out of large parts of their range, turkeys were reintroduced and are numerous once again.”
Status : Least Concern
Source : Cornell University Lab of Ornithology
Cascade Siskiyou National Monument – Jackson County – Oregon - USA
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