Species of The Week: The Wild Turkey

Just in time for the forthcoming holiday, this week’s #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), As you likely know, turkeys are generally known for their large fan of colourful tail feathers, which the adult males (toms) display. These tail feathers display a range of colours including purple, red, green, bronze, copper, and gold iridescence. Despite being among the largest species of birds in North America, turkeys are actually agile fliers. They like to roost up in trees, where they are protected from predators on the ground such as coyotes and humans. Turkeys are known to communicate with each other – their vocabulary consists of 28 distinct calls, each with a general meaning. One of these is the iconic “gobble”, which is generally heard in the spring and early summer, from males announcing their presence to females. Wild Turkeys can be heard (or seen) in the park, particularly in the campgrounds or around the visitor centre. Have you heard any of their vocalizations while visiting the park?

This entry was posted in Friends of Murphys Point, Murphys Point, Murphys Point Provincial Park, Species of the Week. Bookmark the permalink.

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