Wild Turkey (Eastern Wild Turkey)

The Wild Turkey is a large, striking game bird known for its iridescent plumage, bare blue and red head, and fan-shaped tail. During courtship, males display magnificent fan tails and puffed-out bronze body feathers.

Rich coppery-bronze and reddish-brown iridescence with a prominent dark subterminal band and a pale terminal fringe.

Pennaceous at the distal end with closely linked barbs, transitioning to slightly looser structure near the base; no distinct afterfeather is prominent in this view, and barbs are generally intact with minor fraying.

Smooth, firm, and semi-glossy due to structural iridescence, with a stiff central shaft and velvety-textured barbs.

Distinctive coppery-bronze iridescence, dark subterminal band, and pale terminal fringe on a broad, squared contour feather.

Mixed hardwood and pine forests with scattered openings, clearings, agricultural fields, and swamps.

Widely distributed across North America, ranging from wooded areas of southern Canada through the United States down to central Mexico.

Acts as an important seed disperser, insect consumer, and prey species for large mammalian and avian predators.

Domestic turkey variants or large grouse species, which lack the rich wild bronze iridescence and precise banding patterns.

Wild Turkeys can fly up to 55 mph for short bursts and roost high in trees overnight to avoid predators.

Good condition; mostly intact vane with minor wear at the edges, likely a naturally molted feather.