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Eastern Wild Turkey - Facts and Information
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Credit: Tim Ross
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Common Name:
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Eastern Wild Turkey
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Kingdom:
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Animalia
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Phylum:
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Chordata
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Class:
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Aves
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Order:
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Galliformes
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Family:
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Phasianidae
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Genus:
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Meleagris
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Species:
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Meleagris gallopavo
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Subspecies:
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Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
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The Eastern Wild Turkey is the biggest of the five subspecies of turkeys that inhabit North America. Adult male turkeys, also known as a gobbler or tom, average 4 feet (122 cm) in height and weigh up to 25 pounds (11 kg) and on occasion have been known to weigh up to 35 pounds (16 kg). Juvenile male turkeys, also known as jakes, will typically be half the size of a mature turkey, weighing an average of 15 - 20 pounds (7 – 9 kg). The Eastern Wild Turkey is characterized by light brown tipped tail coverts (the smaller feathers that cover the larger feathers) and dark brown tail feather tips. The breast feathers usually have black tips, while the body feathers are an iridescence of copper and bronze. Female turkeys, also known as hens, can be the same height as males, but weigh about 8 – 14 pounds (4 – 6 kg).
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Left Foot Print
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Right Foot Print
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Eastern Wild Turkey Distribution/Habitat
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The Eastern Wild Turkey, as the name implies, is located in the eastern half of the United States. The southern range for this populous turkey is from northern Florida west to eastern Texas and the northern range is from New England and southern Canada west to Minnesota. The Eastern Wild Turkey has also been introduced into western states such as northern California, Oregon, Washington and also into Ontario. This turkey lives in the most diverse of environments and habitat; from the south-east hardwood forests and pastures, to the northern woods. The “Eastern” has the widest range of all the 5 subspecies of turkeys in North America.
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Eastern Wild Turkey Diet
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The “Eastern” has a variety of foods in their diet ranging from grapes and blackberries, beechnut and acorns, and grain like corn and oats. They also enjoy eating insects such as grasshoppers and beetles. Since the range of the Eastern in so large and spans many climates within North America – they are considered the most versatile of all the subspecies.
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Eastern Wild Turkey Reproduction
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Credit: D. Gordon E. Robertson
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Eastern Wild Turkeys lay their eggs from late-March to early-April, typically laying an average of 8 – 12 eggs. This process can take some time, as turkeys usually only lay one egg a day. During the incubation period of 26 - 28 days, the hen will move the eggs periodically throughout the day. Once the incubation period has passed, the eggs may hatch within a 24-hour period of one another. The hen and her newly hatched turkeys (also called poults) will leave the nest within a day in search of food.
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