Order: Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Chick Type: Precocial (only require parental attendance)

Wild Turkeys are found throughout eastern, central, midwestern, southwestern states. There are isolated populations of them in Washington state, northern and southern California and central Mexico. Turkeys have been introduced to Europe, Australia, and Hawaii.

Turkeys are omnivorous; their diet consists of insects, small vertebrates (amphibians, lizards, snakes), seeds, nuts, berries, grasses and roots. Most of their diet consists of grass.

Hens lay 10 - 14 white eggs in a nest on the ground. The incubation time is around 28 days. Baby turkeys are called poults. Usually, there is only one brood per breeding season. Male turkeys are called "Toms," while female turkeys are called hens.

U.S. turkey populations declined to around thirty thousand during the early parts of the 20th century. But with good management, the current population is around 7 million. At night, turkeys roost high up in tall trees.

There are six subspecies of the Wild Turkey:

Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris g. silvestris)

Gould's Turkey (Meleagris g. mexicana)

Merriam's Turkey (Meleagris g. merriami)

Oscelola/Floria Turkey (Meleagris g. osceola)

Rio Grande Turkey (Meleagris g. intermedia)

South Mexican Turkey (Meleagris g. gallopavo)

References