Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

OTHER NAMES: Turkey
Latin Etymology: Meleagris ("guineafowl") gallopavo ("cock peacock")

Adult Female Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: -unknown-
Weight: 2.5-11kg  /  Length: 76-125cm  /  Wingspan: 125-144cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While certainly far more familiar to most as a domestic bird, the wild turkey is a widespread and successful species in it's own right, being present in much of the United States and portions of Mexico. While there is rather substantial size variation between male and female birds, the males can be among the heaviest flying birds on earth. On the West Coast where I saw these individuals they are introduced and expanding their range.

Related Species:
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Meleagris
SUBSPECIES: M. g. silvestris, M. g. osceola, M. g. intermedia, M. g. merriami, M. g. mexicana, M. g. gallopavo

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

A common resident over much of the Eastern USA, with small introduced populations in the West.

 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in several locations around Berkeley

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto