Wild Turkey

The Wild Turkey is a large, ground-dwelling bird with a heavy body and long neck. Adult males (toms) have iridescent bronze-green plumage, while females (hens) are more dull brown. This feather is a primary flight feather, which is essential for the turkey's short, explosive bursts of flight used to escape predators or reach nighttime roosts in trees.

Uniform dark gray-brown to charcoal. Unlike some barred wing feathers of the turkey, this appears to be a dark outer primary which can be more solidly colored or subtly mottled in certain subspecies or age groups.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs providing a rigid flight surface. The base shows a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) structure near the calamus.

Very stiff, coarse, and matte. The leading edge is particularly rigid to withstand the force of heavy-bodied flight.

Distinguished by the extreme asymmetry of the vanes, the large size, and the thick, heavy rachis typical of Galliformes.

Open woodlands, mature forests with clearings, and agricultural fields. They prefer areas with large trees for roosting and dense ground cover for nesting.

Found throughout most of North America, from southern Canada throughout the United States to central Mexico.

An important prey species for larger predators and a significant seed disperser and insect consumer. They act as an indicator of healthy, diverse forest-edge ecosystems.

Vultures (Cathartes aura) have similar sized dark feathers but the rachis is usually lighter and the barb texture is softer. Large raptors like Golden Eagles have broader, more tapered tips.

Benjamin Franklin famously championed the Wild Turkey as a more 'respectable' bird than the Bald Eagle for the national symbol of the USA. They can run up to 25 mph and fly up to 55 mph.

Good condition. There is slight separation of the barbs (splits) on the trailing vane, likely due to contact with vegetation or weathering after molting.