Turkeys and grouse (Phasianidae)
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo. Acorns, seeds, insects and green growth, scratched from the forest floor.
Turkeys and grouse (Phasianidae)Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Scientific name
- Meleagris gallopavo
- Length
- 43.3–45.3 in
- Weight
- 88.2–381 oz
- Nest
- Shallow ground scrape hidden in grass or brush
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 4–17 eggs
- Incubation
- 25–31 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Huge dark bird with a bare red-blue head
- Fan tail and iridescent bronze body
- Males sport a chest 'beard' of bristles
Voice
The famous gobble; also yelps, clucks and purrs.
Diet and feeding
Acorns, seeds, insects and green growth, scratched from the forest floor.
Wild Turkeys by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| California | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Maine | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Montana | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New York | Year-round resident | March–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | March–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | February–June |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Utah | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Washington | Year-round resident | March–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | April–June |
Frequently asked
What do wild turkeys eat?
Acorns, seeds, insects and green growth, scratched from the forest floor. At feeders: cracked corn, whole corn (where legal).
How big is a Wild Turkey?
43.3–45.3 in long and 88.2–381 oz.
Do wild turkeys use birdhouses?
No. Shallow ground scrape hidden in grass or brush.
Sources
- Wild Turkey — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wild Turkey life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wild Turkey — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.