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November 17, 2006

Friday Feathers

Males are called toms, females are hens, young are poults. The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large, plump brown and and bronze bird with a blue and red bare head. It has a fan tail and a long, straight black beard in the center of its chest.

A strong flier; it can fly straight up, then away. Eyesight is three times better than human eyesight. Hearing is excellent; able to hear competing males up to a mile away. Males hold "harems" of up to 20 females. Roost in trees at night.

The Wild Turkey is the largest native game bird in New York and the bird from which the domestic turkey was bred. It almost became our national bird, losing to the Bald Eagle by one vote.

Cindy