Wild Turkey (Eastern Wild Turkey)

This specimen is a wispy body feather, likely a semiplume or frayed contour feather from a Wild Turkey, showcasing dark coloration with light barring near the tip.

Dark greyish-black to brownish-black with lighter whitish or silvery barring near the tip, typical of dark body plumage phases.

Plumulaceous (loose and down-like) with separated barbs lacking effective hooklets, giving it a fluffy, unzipped appearance.

Soft, fluffy, and somewhat brittle, lacking the rigid and waterproof interlock of flight feathers.

Wispy, loose barb structure combined with dark grey-brown tones and distinctive pale tip barring.

Deciduous and mixed forests with scattered clearings, agricultural fields, and open woodlands.

Widespread across North America, from forested regions of the United States and southern Canada down to Mexico.

Acts as an important ground-foraging omnivore, seed disperser, and prey species for large mammalian and avian predators.

Other large game birds such as grouse or pheasants, distinguished mainly by scale, pattern, and exact barb structure.

Wild Turkeys can fly in short bursts up to 55 mph, despite their heavy appearance, but prefer to roost in trees at night for safety.

Fair to Poor condition; the feather shows significant wear, unzipping of the barbs, and fraying along the shaft.