by Sharon Hanzik, PWL Member
The turkey I’m talking about is the North American Wild Turkey. However this article will contain a reference to the country of the same name. What is in a name? The Latin name for turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, contains no intricate breakdown of its etymology. It simply means guinea fowl or peacock. But how did it get its name? There are a couple of possible explanations. One of its varied calls does sound like “turk, turk, turk”. Columbus believed they were related to the peacock (he did get that right). He and other explorers took birds back to Europe where the merchants of Turkey carried out more breeding and trade with the entire continent.
A relative of guinea fowl, peacocks, grouse, quail and pheasants, the wild turkey is considered an upland ground, or game bird. All of the aforementioned can fly but ground travel is their preferred mode of transportation. Of all these game birds, the turkey is the most favored meat as it is the largest and easiest to hunt, providing the most meat per bird. The peacock, although edible, has been described as the least desirable, as the meat is not tender and considered to be very “gamey”. The fossil record of the wild turkey may date back as far as 5000 years.
In North America, the wild turkey is synonymous with the first Thanksgiving. The birds were plentiful, easy to hunt and prepare for meals. Rumour has it that founding father Benjamin Franklin declared that the survival of the early European settlers in the new world was largely dependent upon the plentiful flocks of turkeys and therefore the wild turkey should claim its rightful place as our nation’s symbol. He also stated that the popular choice of the Bald Eagle was not befitting our new nation as it was a bully, a thief and ate carrion. Well, we all know how that turned out.
Wild turkeys inhabit most of the US, Mexico and areas of extreme southern Canada. But they are not all the same. Little do most people know that there are five subspecies. The Eastern subspecies is the most widely distributed. Merriam’s can be found in the western mountain regions. The Rio Grande inhabits western Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. Goulds can be found in Arizona, parts of New Mexico, and Northern Mexico. Florida, or Osceola calls the peninsula home. And the Ocellated, perhaps the least known, inhabits the Yucatan Peninsula. This particular species is a bit more colorful than its relatives and may be the one that Columbus thought resembled the peacock.
Although both sexes are very similar in appearance there are quite a few differences to look for. Of course adult males, or gobblers, will be larger than females (hens), but immature males may be confused with females if one is comparing size alone. The birds can weigh from 20- 24 lbs. Of course an obvious clue during spring courtship is the fanning of the tail feathers of the male. The males will also have more skin on their heads and a much larger snood than a female. This skin will turn bright red during courtship. Also, notice the low “beard” protruding from the male’s breast feathers and the spurs on their legs. One other difference, should you ever have the pleasure, is a noticeable difference in feces. The droppings from the male will be long and thin, only curving at the ends, while the droppings of the female tend to be coiled.
Males and females will only be found cavorting together during the spring mating season. After which each sex then retreats to their respective flocks. As with their upland ground dwelling relatives, turkeys do not nest in trees. They will choose more secluded, sheltered areas for nesting such as underbrush and the edge of the forest. There may be as few as 4 and as many as 17 eggs in a nest, laid between April and mid-May. After a 28-day incubation period, the poults are able to fly at 2 weeks of age. Until that time, the hen will stay on the ground with them and feed them for only a few days. A wild turkey’s diet consists of acorns, nuts, seeds, fruits,insects, buds, fern fronds, and small amphibians. Since these birds are mostly ground dwellers, they must grow up quickly. Many threats exist, including fire ants, wild pigs, snakes and small mammals. They will be able to fly to low branches and hop their way higher just as their mothers do.
Their populations did dwindle in the early 20th century. Recovery/reintroduction efforts have helped them now reach a status of little concern.
www.fws.gov/story/wild-facts-about-wild-turkeys
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wild_turkeyoverview www.nwtf.org/content-hub/know-your-wild-turkey-subspecies