Native to North America and ancestor to the domestic turkey, it is one of the two extant turkey species. The Wild turkey is omnivorous and prefers to live in hardwood forests. Turkeys prefer to forage with squirrels and deer for predation. In the breeding season, polygamous males produce a gobbling sound that can be heard a mile away.
It plays a vital role in the culture of native American tribes and is considered a favorite meal. In 1973, when Public Wild Turkey was established, there were roughly 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. The number exceeded 6.7 million after 40 years. The population is again decreasing to 6-6.2 million birds.
Distribution





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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No