The Majestic Wild Turkey
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| Wild Turkeys
Photo courtesy of Maslowski, National Wild Turkey Federation
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Turkey Puzzle
Turkey Coloring
Where are the Turkeys?
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| GLOSSARY |
| Beard |
A large clump of hair-like feathers that hangs from the breast
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| Forbs |
A broadleaf weed
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| Iridescence |
The diffraction of light reflected from a closely ribbed surface
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| Major Caruncles |
The large, naked, fleshy outgrowth on the neck of a male turkey
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| Roosting Site |
The place chosen for resting and protection
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| Spur |
A bony outgrowth on the leg of a bird
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The majestic Wild Turkey is found in every county in Ohio. Long ago, this large bird was driven from Ohio as settlers cut down forests to plant crops.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Division of Wildlife worked with other states to transplant wild turkey from other states into Ohio forest land that had grown up in old, abandoned crop fields. As the turkey population began to grow, birds were trapped and moved to other areas of the state.
Wild turkeys prefer mature forests with open feeding areas that consist of grasses, forbs and plenty of insects. The forests provide them protection and roosting sites. As the habitat has improved, the majestic wild turkey can once again be found all over Ohio!
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| Photo courtesty of Larry Price, National Wild Turkey Federation |
The wild turkey can grow to be 3 to 4 feet tall and weigh as much as 24 pounds. Their heads don’t have many feathers, but are brightly colored. The male turkey has red, blue and white colors on its head and the female has a bluish-grey colored head. The male turkey has large spurs on the back of its feet and a beard that hangs from the breast. The beard is actually a large clump of hair-like feathers. The male turkey also has major caruncles, the large, red part of the neck. The female also has caruncles, but they are not as noticeable.
The female turkey has feathers on the breast that are tipped with a light brown color. The male has black tipped feathers on the breast. Most of the turkey’s feathers have a metallic shine, called iridescence. The feathers commonly shine red, green, copper, bronze and gold. The male color is brighter than the female.
The wild turkey’s diet consists of green plants, seeds, flowers, wild grape, wild cherry, and acorns. They also eat insects, like grasshoppers and dragonflies. Turkeys usually feed in flocks of families or adults.
Wild turkeys make a number of different sounds. Most people think of a turkey’s gobble, but they also yelp, peep, trill, putt, bark and even croak like a frog!
The Majestic Wild Turkey is really majestic, isn’t it?
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