Wild Turkey

A classic upland game bird feather, featuring the iconic 'zebra' barring of the Wild Turkey. The bird itself is a large, ground-dwelling fowl with a naked head, iridescent body plumage, and a fan-shaped tail.

Distinctive bold horizontal barring of dark chocolate brown to black alternating with buff-white or light tan. The tips often show a dark terminal band characteristic of the Phasianidae family.

The upper portion is pennaceous with interlocked barbs creating a solid vane, though heavily worn/frayed; the lower half is plumulaceous (downy) with a prominent aftershaft visible.

The pennaceous section is stiff and somewhat coarse, while the plumaceous base is extremely soft and fluffy. The surface appears matte with limited iridescence compared to breast feathers.

Bold tan and dark brown horizontal barring; thick, pale rachis; presence of a large, fuzzy aftershaft at the base.

Open woodlands, hardwood forests with scattered openings, pastures, and agricultural fields.

Found throughout North America from southern Canada to Mexico; mostly a year-round resident.

Omnivorous foragers that control insect populations and disperse seeds. They serve as a primary prey species for large carnivores.

Ruffed Grouse feathers are smaller and have different banding; Barred Owl feathers are softer and lack the stiff structure and distinct tan/black contrast.

Wild Turkeys were famously suggested by Benjamin Franklin as a more respectable national bird than the Bald Eagle. They can fly up to 55 mph in short bursts.

Fair to Poor. Significant fraying and 'velcro' separation of the barbs in the pennaceous region suggesting it was molted or exposed to elements for some time.