Wild Turkey

The Wild Turkey is a large, ground-dwelling bird with a heavy body and long neck. Adult males (toms) are iridescent bronze with a naked blue and red head, while females are more camouflaged brown. This feather reflects the bird's powerful, if short-duration, flight capabilities.

Dark brownish-black to charcoal base with distinctive white-to-light-buff horizontal barring. The bars are irregular and wavy, creating a speckled appearance on the inner vane. The rachis is white at the base, transitioning to dark brown distally.

Densely pennaceous and stiff throughout the main vane to facilitate flight; the base (calamus area) shows remnant plumulaceous (downy) barbs for insulation.

The surface is somewhat matte with a slight waxy sheen. The leading edge is very stiff to the touch, while the trailing edge is more flexible but still resilient.

Bold white-on-black barring, large size (11+ inches), extreme asymmetry of the vanes, and a thick, white calamus.

Hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with scattered openings like pastures, fields, and orchards. They prefer areas with heavy mast (acorn) production.

Found throughout North America, from southern Canada through most of the United States into central Mexico. Highly resident, though they may shift elevations in mountainous regions.

Omnivorous foragers that disperse seeds and control insect populations; they serve as a major prey source for large predators like coyotes and bobcats.

Domestic Turkey feathers are nearly identical but often show cleaner white tips or more uniform barring. Large hawk or eagle feathers lack the specific barred pattern and have different vane proportions.

Wild Turkeys were almost extirpated from North America by the early 1900s; they are one of the greatest success stories in wildlife management. They can fly up to 55 mph and run up to 25 mph.

Fair to Good. There is significant 'zipper' separation of the barbs (venting) along the trailing edge, and the tip shows some wear and fraying consistent with a molted feather.