The wild turkey is different from its domesticated cousin. These birds are native to the “new world” — specifically to Mexico. If Ben Franklin had gotten his way, our native wild turkey would have become our national symbol vs. the eagle. The eagle is found in all countries, but the turkey is a true native of America.

The wild turkey is a game bird but is one of the more difficult birds to hunt. Despite this, by the 1930’s these birds had been hunted to almost extinction. Thanks to conservation programs, today there are plenty of wild turkeys — even in the suburbs!

• Young turkey birds are called poults or chicks.
• An adult male is called a tom, and a female is called a hen.
• As soon as 24 hours after hatching, a young poult is up and running around in search of food.
• When a turkey is excited, its head can change color to red, pink, white, or blue.
• A wild turkey can run as fast as 25 miles per hour.
• Wild turkeys are wary, difficult to catch, and have acute eyesight.
• While not an agile flyer, you will find that wild turkeys sleep in trees, roosting high up in the branches every night.

The turkey physique. The loose red skin attached to the underside of a turkey’s beak is called a wattle. When the male turkey is excited, the wattle turns a scarlet red. The flap of skin that hangs over the beak is called a snood and also turns bright red. Then there’s the wobbly thing on the turkey’s chest. This is the turkey’s beard, made up of keratin bristles. Keratin is the same substance that forms hair and horns on other animals.

The turkey life. These birds generally feed on seeds, nuts, berries and they are great insect eaters. Perfect to keep in your yard if you have a tick problem. Their average life span is three to four years. And yes, the tom turkey does make a call known as a “gobble,” mostly in the
spring and fall to attract the hens.