Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

This is a classic tail feather from a Wild Turkey, the largest game bird in North America. The bird itself is heavy-bodied with long legs and a naked head that changes color. Males (toms) are known for their spectacular courtship displays where they fan these large tail feathers into a vertical semicircle while strutting and gobbling.

Dark brownish-black base with fine, wavy horizontal barring of iridescent bronze and copper. A prominent, wide black subterminal band is capped by a distinct light-buff or creamy-white terminal tip.

Primarily pennaceous with a stiff, interlocking structure designed for display and flight stability. The base transition includes a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) barbs near the superior umbilicus.

The surface is somewhat stiff and coarse to the touch. It has a glossy, iridescent sheen when viewed in direct light, characteristic of the structural colors in turkey plumage.

Broad black subterminal band, light buff/tan tip, and fine horizontal wavy barring across the main vane. High rigidity and large size are diagnostic.

Open woodlands, forest edges, and grasslands. Increasingly found in suburban areas, parks, and agricultural fields where food and roosting trees are available.

Resident throughout North America, including much of the United States (including Colorado) and southern Canada, down into Mexico. They do not migrate.

Turkeys are important seed dispersers and serve as a significant prey source for large predators. They occupy a middle-tier niche in the food web as omnivores that forage on mast (acorns), seeds, and insects.

Domestic Turkey feathers are very similar but often have pure white tips; Ruffed Grouse tail feathers are much smaller and lack the same iridescent bronze barring.

Benjamin Franklin famously preferred the Wild Turkey over the Bald Eagle as a national symbol, calling it a 'Bird of Courage.' Turkeys can fly up to 55 mph and run up to 25 mph.

The feather appears to be in Good to Fair condition. There is visible separation of the barbs ('zipper' failure) along the right edge, likely due to mechanical wear or handling after being molted. The terminal tip shows slight fraying.

Arvada, Colorado on a neighbor’s driveway