The Wild Turkey is the heaviest game bird in North America and was nearly eliminated from the eastern United States by the early 20th century. Aggressive restocking programs have returned it to every state in the lower 48. Males display spectacular iridescent bronze plumage and inflate their red-and-blue bare head wattles during courtship. Benjamin Franklin reportedly preferred it over the Bald Eagle as the national emblem.
Best time to see a Wild Turkey
The best time to see a Wild Turkey is February–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 155,356 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Wild Turkey? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Wild Turkey sightings near you
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