The wild turkey was a common, upland game bird in the early 1900s. Deforestation and over-kill reduced their numbers, nearing extinction. Help came by introducing stock from the U.S.
Wary of humans during hunting season, they prefer running (19km/h) or swimming over flight. We had an experience recently near the Conestogo Dam, we came to an abrupt stop. Possibly 30 wild turkeys covered the road, blocking all traffic. They quickly retreated to the woods with the arrival of us humans. At night turkeys nest in trees. ID: head: naked, blue-red; body: dark, glossy/iridescent; tail: barred, copper-coloured, fan-shaped when open with buff tips; legs: reddish/gray, unfeathered mainly; back: humped. The male has a hanging tassel/spurs or beard from its breast and colourful body and red wattles. The female is smaller with less colour and iridescence, without beard. Size: male 48”/91cm, female 36”/89cm, extremely large. Heaviest of their bird family (30 lb). Status: fairly common year-round resident, in our region and s. Ontario. Flock together (groups of 200+) from fall to spring, sometimes males separate during this winter period. Indigenous peoples were well familiar with turkeys. Non-migratory but may wander in fall.
Habitat: open, deciduous forest, forest edges and agricultural fields.
Nesting: woodlands or edge of field. Built on a scraped depression in the ground, well covered, lined with grass, leaves. Ten to fifteen eggs are incubated by female. Two-three females often share a common nest and share incubation. Predators: coyotes and humans. Feeding: seeds, fruit, bulbs, insects especially beetles and grass-hoppers, frogs, lizards, snakes, salamanders. Acorns, nuts. In harsh winters supplemental feeding is helpful. Voice: various sounds, male gobbles during courtship; alarm is pert, gathering cluck, contact keouk keouk. Lifespan: up to nine years. Conservation: increasing in numbers and adapting to suburbs. Resources: Birds of Ontario, Stokes, Audubon, Lorimer, Alberta and DK bird books; Wikepedia and Audubon online.
Submitted by Susan Warren.
I wish all my readers a blessed Christmas and a healthy 2024.
