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    Meleagris – Turkeys

    Turkeys are one of the most widely distributed gamebirds indigenous to the US, with long necks and large fan-shaped tail

    The large terrestrial birds having long legs and necks inhabit areas with scattered openings like pastures, orchards, and fields. The wings are short and round. They also have a red fleshy lobe hanging down from the chin or throat. Adult males have red, blue, or white heads and are called gobblers as they produce a gobbling sound in the breeding season. The gobbling sound of a male can be heard a mile away.

    These birds are polygynous and build concealed nests on the ground. The females are known to lay eggs in another female’s nest. Turkeys prefer to spend time on the ground and usually run to escape from danger than fly. The species of Californian turkey has become extinct entirely.