Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
A big, strong-legged bird of North American forests whose gobble carries a mile; the ancestor of farm turkeys.
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About the Wild Turkey
Male wild turkeys stand about 4 feet tall and weigh 15 to 25 pounds; females are about 3 feet tall. They are the heaviest members of the group that includes chickens, quail and pheasants. They live in forests with clearings, fields and pastures across most of the U.S. east of the Rockies. They eat acorns, nuts, berries, seeds and leaves, plus insects and salamanders.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Meleagris gallopavo[1]
- Size
- Males about 4 feet tall; females about 3 feet.[1]
- Weight
- Males 15 to 25 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 3 to 5 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Omnivore. Acorns, nuts, berries, seeds, leaves, insects and salamanders.[1]
- Habitat
- Forests with clearings, fields, pastures, parks and marshes.[1]
- Where it lives
- Most of the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, plus scattered western areas.[1]
- Group life
- Winter flocks with a pecking order. Active by day; roosts in trees.[1]
- Babies
- 8 to 15 eggs, incubated for 25 to 31 days.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- wattle
- A fleshy flap of skin hanging from a bird's head or neck.
- roost
- To rest or sleep on a perch.
- domesticated
- Tamed and raised by people over many generations.
- omnivore
- An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Turkey.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/wild-turkey (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679525/132051953 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
