Bold, yet cautious, the wild turkey has become one of the great symbols of American mythology.

Wild Turkeys are found throughout most of the middle and eastern portions of the United States and in limited areas in the west. Wild Turkeys are large ground dwelling birds with long powerful legs, a fan-shaped tail, and a red fleshy lobe that hangs from their chin called a “wattle.” Males sport a “beard” consisting of a long tuft of black filamentous feathers that protrudes from their breast. Females are smaller and have less impressive plumage than males. Wild Turkeys have keen eyesight and excellent hearing. They are fast fliers, reaching speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. A full-grown male will measure up to 4 feet long and may weigh up to 30 pounds.

Turkeys mate in the spring. Males attempt to attract females through a display called “strutting” in which they fan out their tail feathers, drag their wings on the ground, throw their head back, and take quick, rapid steps. A successful male will mate with several hens. After mating, hens will nest in a small depression they make in the ground, surrounded by dense brush. They will lay 4 to 17 eggs and incubate them for one month. Males take no part in incubating the eggs or rearing their young.