Wild Turkey

(Meleagris gallopavo)

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© San Antonio, Texas - Spring 2005

Field Marks: 46". Unmistakable.  The largest North American game bird.  Huge, with long legs, neck and tail.
 

Voice: Males give off a gobble noise; also pit noted, clucks and others.   Alarm sound is a put-put.
 

Where found: Oklahoma, Pennsylvania south to s. Mexico, Gulf States. In Texas, are most numerous in the Edwards plateau and coastal prairies and ranches from central coast nearly to the Rio Grande.  These were seen on the highway between Harlingen and Corpus Christi in a dried out water tank and about 80-100 yards off of the highway.

Food:  Berries, acorns, nuts, seeds, insects.

Nest:  A leaf-lined depression on the ground in a thicket or woodland.  Eggs are between 8-15 buff and dotted.