Better be a bird of the wood…

Better be a bird of the wood than a bird in the cage.

Italian Proverb quote

Wild Turkey: Have you seen a wild turkey?

Turkey

A turkey is either of two or three living species of large birds in the genus Meleagris. One species, Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as the Wild Turkey, is native to the forests of North America. The other species, Meleagris ocellata, known as the Ocellated Turkey, is native to the forests of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The domestic turkey is a descendant of the Wild Turkey and features prominently in the menu of the U.S. and Canadian holidays of Thanksgiving and that of Christmas in many countries.

Identification Tips:
• Length: 34 inches
• Very large, small-headed, round-winged, long-tailed, ground-dwelling bird
• Unfeathered bluish head and reddish throat
• Dark breast, belly and upper back
• Iridescent bronze and green wings
• Barred primaries
• Dark, fan-shaped tail with brown or buff band at tip

Adult male:
• Larger head with wattle at throat, caruncled forehead, and projection behind the bill
• More iridescent plumage

Similar species:

Too large to be confused with any other bird.

While large domesticated turkeys are generally unable to fly, smaller, lighter domesticated turkeys known as heritage turkeys and wild turkeys can fly. However, heavy adult wild turkeys can fly well enough to avoid predators by taking off and flying up to 100 yards (91 m) and perching in tree branches.