male; protuberance from breast; colorful head (Texas, USA; 2006-04-03)


Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo

Native Range: North America and Middle America

Notes: the wild ancestor of the domestic turkey; unlike the latter, the dark-plumaged Wild Turkey is a smart, wary, and well-camoflaged bird; usually in oak or beech forests and clearings; wild birds sometimes hybridize with domesticated eascapees, and this has contributed to a range expansion of via feral forms.

hen; less colorful head; no breast plume (Michigan, USA; 2006-08-24)
hen; well camoflaged (California, USA; 2006-05-06)

wary hen with chick (Michigan, USA; 2006-08-24)
small flock, probably a family group (Michigan, USA; 2006-08-24)

another flock or family group (Florida, USA; 2008-01-02)
two "teenager" chicks (Michigan, USA; 2006-08-24)