A flock or rafter of Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Actually there were 34 in this flock having their breakfast of insects, nuts, seeds. My neighbor told me they roost in nearby trees. I’ve often heard explosive gobbling and loud rattling from them. They often maraud in the street and stop traffic. They’ve been here longer than us, so they always have the right of way.
If you're still reading . . . here’s some Wild (not Domestic) Turkey trivia:
— There are approximately 5500 feathers on an adult.
—They have very powerfu legs and can run at speeds up to 25 mph. Their top speed in flight is 55 mph.
—Because it is a native bird with a proud demeanor and protective instincts, the Wild Turkey was Benjamin Franklin’s preference for the national bird. Franklin considered the Bald Eagle less honorable because it can be a scavenger and rob other birds and animals for prey.
—A Wild Turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away (!) (I can attest to that) and is a primary means for warning other “toms” away from his territory as well as communicating with his “harem”.
—The bald head & fleshy facial wattles can change color (red, pink,white or blue) in seconds with excitement or emotion. The flap of skin that hangs down over a turkey’s bill is called a snood, and can also change color, size, and shape based on mood and activities.
—Wild Turkeys see in color and have an excellent daytime vision that is 3X better than a human’s eyesight and covers 270 degrees. They have poor vision at night, however. This explains why they sleep in trees.
A flock or rafter of Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Actually there were 34 in this flock having their breakfast of insects, nuts, seeds. My neighbor told me they roost in nearby trees. I’ve often heard explosive gobbling and loud rattling from them. They often maraud in the street and stop traffic. They’ve been here longer than us, so they always have the right of way.
If you're still reading . . . here’s some Wild (not Domestic) Turkey trivia:
— There are approximately 5500 feathers on an adult.
—They have very powerfu legs and can run at speeds up to 25 mph. Their top speed in flight is 55 mph.
—Because it is a native bird with a proud demeanor and protective instincts, the Wild Turkey was Benjamin Franklin’s preference for the national bird. Franklin considered the Bald Eagle less honorable because it can be a scavenger and rob other birds and animals for prey.
—A Wild Turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away (!) (I can attest to that) and is a primary means for warning other “toms” away from his territory as well as communicating with his “harem”.
—The bald head & fleshy facial wattles can change color (red, pink,white or blue) in seconds with excitement or emotion. The flap of skin that hangs down over a turkey’s bill is called a snood, and can also change color, size, and shape based on mood and activities.
—Wild Turkeys see in color and have an excellent daytime vision that is 3X better than a human’s eyesight and covers 270 degrees. They have poor vision at night, however. This explains why they sleep in trees.