Wild Turkey

This is a large, sturdy primary feather from a Wild Turkey, a heavy-bodied ground bird. The bird itself is unmistakable with its iridescent bronze-green plumage, naked red/blue head, and powerful legs. In flight, their wings appear short and rounded but provide incredible bursts of speed.

Base color is dark brownish-black or charcoal, boldly marked with crisp, alternating white to off-white horizontal bands (barring). The patterns are more defined on the broader inner vane.

Strictly pennaceous and tightly interlocked for flight efficiency; the barbs are stiff and resistant to separation, particularly on the outer vane.

Very stiff, coarse, and durable. The surface has a matte appearance with a slight waxy feel typical of ground-dwelling birds that need protection against abrasion.

Distinctive white and black horizontal barring; extreme asymmetry of the vanes; large size; and a very stiff, thick rachis.

Open woodlands, mature forests with scattered clearings, agricultural fields, and occasionally suburban green-spaces.

Native to North America; found throughout the United States, Southern Canada, and portions of Mexico. They are non-migratory permanent residents.

Omnivorous foragers that act as seed dispersers and insect controllers. They are a primary prey species for large predators like bobcats and coyotes.

Domestic Turkey feathers are nearly identical but often have cleaner white tips or more uniform coloring. Larger raptor feathers lack the distinct 'zebra' barring pattern.

Wild Turkeys were once proposed by Benjamin Franklin as the national bird of the U.S. They can fly at speeds up to 55 mph and run up to 25 mph.

Fair to Good. The feather shows some light fraying (sep-aration of barbs) along the edges, likely due to contact with vegetation or the ground before being found.