Wild Turkey

A large, heavy-bodied ground bird with a long neck and a featherless head. Adult males (toms) have iridescent bronze-green plumage and a 'beard', while females (hens) are duller brown. This feather reflects the bird's power and ability to perform short, rapid bursts of flight to escape predators or reach night roosts.

Distinctive bold horizontal 'ladder-back' banding. Dark brownish-black bars alternate with white to creamy-white bars. The pigmentation is melanin-based. The ventral side is more matte than the dorsal side.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs along the majority of the vane for flight rigidity, transitioning to a small plumulaceous (downy) section at the base (superior umbilicus).

The surface is somewhat stiff and slightly matte to waxy. The leading edge barbs are extremely rigid to prevent 'flutter' during flight, while the trailing edge is more flexible.

Bold white-and-black barring, strong asymmetry of the vane, and a thick, rigid rachis. The high contrast of the 'ladder' pattern is diagnostic for Meleagris gallopavo.

Mature forests with scattered openings, oak-hickory woodlands, grasslands, and occasionally suburban edges with tall trees for roosting.

Common throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States to central Mexico. They are non-migratory permanent residents.

Omnivorous foragers that act as seed dispersers and keep insect populations in check. They are a major prey species for large predators like bobcats and coyotes.

Can be confused with Barred Owl feathers, but owl feathers have a soft 'fringed' edge for silent flight and lack the extreme rigidity and gloss of turkey feathers. Pheasant feathers are smaller and usually have different color gradients.

The Wild Turkey was Benjamin Franklin's preferred choice for the national bird of the United States over the Bald Eagle. They can fly at speeds up to 55 mph in short bursts and run up to 25 mph.

The feather appears to be in Good condition. There is some separation of the barbs (zipper effect) on the trailing edge, which is common in molted feathers. No significant fault bars or parasitic damage are visible.