Wild Turkey

The Wild Turkey is a large, striking game bird native to North America, known for its iridescent plumage, fan-shaped tail, and bare head of the adult male. Females tend to be duller brown for camouflage while nesting. They are highly social, spending days foraging on the ground for nuts, seeds, and insects.

Muted grayish-brown with subtle vermiculation and a paler, whitish-buff terminal fringe or band, typical of female or juvenile Wild Turkey body plumage

Pennaceous upper portion with tightly interlocked barbs and barbicels, transitioning to a plumulaceous (fluffy) base with a distinct downy afterfeather (aftershaft)

Smooth and firm along the pennaceous tip, soft and downy at the base, matte finish with no iridescence

Large size, broad rounded tip, grayish-brown coloration with fine vermiculations, and a distinct fluffy downy base with an afterfeather

Hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with scattered openings, clearings, and agricultural fields

Widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from forested regions of the United States and southern Canada down to Mexico

Serves as an important seed disperser, insect predator, and a key prey species for large mammalian and avian predators

Domestic turkey breeds and certain large grouse species, distinguishable by subtle patterning and specific local range characteristics

Wild Turkeys can fly in short bursts up to speeds of 55 mph, though they spend most of their time on the ground and roost in trees at night to avoid predators

Good condition, mostly intact barbs with slight fraying at the fluffy base, showing normal wear for a naturally molted feather

MN near fort snelling