(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 34 inches
  2. Very large, small-headed, round-winged, long-tailed, ground-dwelling bird
  3. Unfeathered bluish head and reddish throat
  4. Dark breast, belly and upper back
  5. Iridescent bronze and green wings
  6. Barred primaries
  7. Dark, fan-shaped tail with brown or buff band at tip

Adult male:

  1. Larger head with wattle at throat, caruncled forehead, and projection behind the bill
  2. More iridescent plumage

Similar species:

Too large to be confused with any other bird.