A turkey is either of two species of large birds in the genus Meleagris native to North America. Turkeys are classed in the order Galliformes. Turkeys are now considered by most authorities to be of their own family, the 'Meleagrididae. Turkeys have a distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak, and a fleshy protuberance that hangs from the top of its beak called a snood. As with many galliform species, the female (the hen) is smaller than the male (the tom), and much less colorful. With wingspans of 1.5–1.8 meters (almost 6 feet), the turkeys are by far the largest birds in the open forests in which they live, and are rarely mistaken for any other species.

Birds of the Pfeiffer Nature Center. Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Part 2 ... At night the poults must cluster under her protective wings and breast, on the ground.

Every spring a female turkey, often called a hen, will lay one egg a day for up to two weeks. Before the hen begins laying eggs she finds a place where food and water is near, so she won’t be ...

Now, the wild turkey roams freely in most of the state and is doing great--so great that now, like ... Open, grassy areas provide insects for poults (young turkeys) along with areas for winter feeding ...

 

Turkey poults (chicks) and hatching eggs available. We carry modern and heritage Turkey breeds as well as wild Turkey varieties.

The two species are the North American Wild Turkey ( M. gallopavo ) and the Central American Ocellated Turkey ( M. ocellata ). The modern domesticated turkey was developed from the Wild Turkey by the ...

Even uncontrolled feral or freeranging domestic dogs and cats can prey heavily on turkey nests and poults. Wild predators are seldom a limiting factor on turkey populations, but ...

Through various calls, hens are able to alert poults to the presence of predators. Interesting Facts. Wild turkey populations have increased from an estimated 450,000 in 1959 to an estimated 3.5 million ...

The Life History of the Wild Turkey Eastern wild turkeys are part of a ... poults) are vulnerable to cold, rainy weather and must depend on the