Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo )
Wild Turkey - Wild Turkey information - Wild Turkey facts
The Wild turkey is the original ancestor of all modern domestic animals all over the world. Originally it s distributed southern parts of the US down to Mexico. In the western parts of the US there are several subspecies.
The male turkey, also called a stag or a cock, is 120 cm (48 inches) long, whereas the female turkey, called a hen, is 91 cm (36 inches) long. Turkeys found in the northern parts tend to be larger than those in the southern parts. They have got a small bare bluish head. The cocks have vivid red beard extending down the throat. The hens do not have any beard. The body is bronzy-brown. Their plumage is a perfect camouflage for them therefore it is quite hard to spot them in the wild nature. The colour of the feathers depends on the region and the time of the year.
Meleagris gallopavo has got a unique gobbling call. It can be heard especially during the breeding season. In this time of the year the color of their plumage intensifies as well. The male usually lives in a company of several hens. They live in wooded areas and swamp places. Their nest is basically a scrape on the ground. The hens usually lay from eight to fifteen yellow-brown eggs with brown blurs. Their diet consists of berries seeds, grass, nuts but also small invertebrates and earth worms.
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