Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Least Concern

“Watch closely, respect my space, and let my habitat explain the rest of the story.”

Avoyelles Parish Bienville Parish Bossier Parish Caddo Parish Caldwell Parish Catahoula Parish Claiborne Parish Concordia Parish DeSoto Parish East Carroll Parish Franklin Parish Grant Parish Jackson Parish LaSalle Parish Lincoln Parish Madison Parish Morehouse Parish Natchitoches Parish Ouachita Parish Rapides Parish Red River Parish Richland Parish Sabine Parish Tensas Parish Union Parish Vernon Parish Webster Parish West Carroll Parish Winn Parish

The Short Version

Wild Turkey

Least Concern IUCN Rank
Bottomland Forests , Edge and Transitional Habitats Main Habitats
Omnivore Diet
Eggs Young
All Habitats Bottomland Forests , Edge and Transitional Habitats , Fields , Forests , Hardwood Forests , Pine Forests
Key Features Wild turkeys are huge, dark gamebirds. Toms can weigh up to 25 pounds with wingspans approaching five feet. Bare head skin shifts color with excitement, and toms carry snoods, caruncles, beards, tail…
Active Seasons in North Louisiana Wild turkeys eat acorns, hickory nuts, pecans, seeds, insects, salamanders, frogs, small snakes, and whatever seasonal food the forest offers. The Gobble, the Strut, and the Full Spring Production. Late winter and…

Fun Facts

Did You Know?

Franklin did not formally nominate the turkey for the national seal, but he did call the bald eagle a bird of bad moral character and the turkey a more respectable bird. The eagle got the paperwork. The turkey got the woods

If This Animal Could Talk...

"Watch closely, respect my space, and let my habitat explain the rest of the story."

Turkey is more than a holiday main course. Meleagris gallopavo is the largest gamebird in North America, a fast, wary, loud, ridiculous, magnificent year-round resident of North Louisiana woods.

A tom standing in a field in March, dragging his wingtips and fanning his tail, takes the situation completely seriously. The situation being himself.

A Few More Facts

How they hunt and forage: Wild turkeys eat acorns, hickory nuts, pecans, seeds, insects, salamanders, frogs, small snakes, and whatever seasonal food the forest offers. Poults depend heavily on insects for protein during their first weeks.

Live birth or eggs? no

When young are born: See the detailed species sections below.

Accessibility

Accessibility

The gobble, yelps, clucks, alarm putts, and low drumming of a strutting tom make wild turkeys highly accessible by sound. Vehicle-based observation along refuge and WMA roads can work well at dawn and dusk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wild Turkey live in North Louisiana?

Yes. Meleagris gallopavo is the largest gamebird in North America, a fast, wary, loud, ridiculous, magnificent year-round resident of North Louisiana woods. Turkey Hunting in North Louisiana. The bird's vision and collective flock awareness make it one of the hardest large animals to approach in North Louisiana

How do you identify Wild Turkey?

Wild turkeys are huge, dark gamebirds. Toms can weigh up to 25 pounds with wingspans approaching five feet. Bare head skin shifts color with excitement, and toms carry snoods, caruncles, beards, tail fans, and sharp spurs that are not decorative

What does Wild Turkey eat?

Wild turkeys eat acorns, hickory nuts, pecans, seeds, insects, salamanders, frogs, small snakes, and whatever seasonal food the forest offers. Poults depend heavily on insects for protein during their first weeks

Is Wild Turkey dangerous to people?

No. This species is not dangerous to people when it is observed without handling or disturbance

More Information

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