• The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is found throughout most of North America. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) there are two sub-species in Colorado – Merriam’s and Rio Grande:
• Merriam’s are native and found in higher elevations, generally west of I-25, in forested habitat. The tail feather tips are white.
• Rio Grande turkeys were introduced in the 1980s and prefer riparian brush and scrub oak habitats, typically east of I-25. The tips of their tail feathers are tan.

• Males, know as “toms” are up to 48” tall with wingspans of 64” and can weigh in at up to 20 pounds. Toms are also known for the colorful wattle hanging from the head and a fleshy growth on the forehead called a snood. All toms and some hens have a cluster of feathers called a “beard” hanging from their chest.

• Females, “hens” are significantly smaller at 36” tall, 60” wingspans, and a weight around 9 pounds.

• As omnivores, turkeys forage on the ground (and sometimes in trees) looking for plant material, insects, and the occasional small reptile or amphibian.

• Males vocalize with the familiar “gobble gobble” while females make a sharp clucking sound.

• Males strut and display their tail feathers in the spring as part of the mating ritual. Females will lay clutches of around 10 eggs in ground nests and incubate them for about 28 days. The young turkeys, “poults” can fly at ten days old.

• In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin favored the wild turkey as the national bird. He thought that the turkey was a “true original of North America” and a “bird of courage” but, contrary to the legend, he did not actually propose it as a national symbol.

• Avoid feeding wild turkeys to prevent them from becoming dependent on humans and to avoid the risk of aggressive behavior. Let's keep nature wild!

Sources: volunteer Leslie Dixon, Sibley's Field Guide to Western Birds of North America, Wikipedia