Many people are familiar with the turkey, a large ground-dwelling bird that is a popular feature at holiday meals. However, there is another bird that bears a striking resemblance to the turkey but has an important difference – this bird can fly!
Identifying the Bird
The bird in question is the wild turkey’s closest relative, the ocellated turkey. Like the familiar domestic turkey, the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a large, round-bodied bird with a small head, long neck, and fan-shaped tail. However, while domestic turkeys are usually brownish-gray, ocellated turkeys sport a more colorful palette. Their feathers are an iridescent blend of bronze, blue, and green, with a bright blue head and neck. An ocellated turkey’s tail feathers are tipped with eye-shaped spots or “ocelli” in varying shades of gold, bronze, and copper. These distinctive spots give the bird its name.
In addition to differences in coloration, ocellated turkeys are slightly smaller than domestic turkeys. An adult male ocellated turkey, called a tom, measures around 30 inches long and weighs between 11-13 pounds. The female, or hen, is smaller at 27 inches long and 5-7 pounds. Domestic broad-breasted turkeys, on the other hand, can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh over 40 pounds!
Range and Habitat
While domestic turkeys are bred worldwide, ocellated turkeys are only found wild in a small region of Central America. Their range includes the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, and northern Guatemala. Within this region, ocellated turkeys inhabit tropical rainforests, semi-deciduous forests, savannas, and agricultural areas. They prefer forests with dense undergrowth which provides shelter, nesting sites, and food.
Flight Capabilities
One of the major differences between ocellated turkeys and domestic turkeys is their ability to fly. Selective breeding has made domestic turkeys much too large and heavy to get airborne. Ocellated turkeys, however, are strong fliers. They can rapidly take off and fly at speeds up to 55 mph over short distances. Their ability to fly helps them evade predators, cross rivers, and reach safe roosting sites high up in the forest canopy each night.
Roosting Behavior
Ocellated turkeys spend their days foraging on the forest floor, but roost solitarily in trees at night. Typically, they choose large trees with horizontal branches at least 30 feet above the ground. This helps keep them safe from prowling jaguars, pumas, and other forest predators. Ocellated turkeys fly up to their roost sites around sunset and remain there until morning. In the rainy season, they may roost together in small flocks for added warmth and protection.
Diet
Ocellated turkeys are omnivores meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. During the day, they forage on the ground for fruits, seeds, flowers, roots, fungi, and nuts. They also eat a wide variety of insects like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and ants. Ocellated turkeys will even hunt small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs, and snakes. At agricultural sites, they may graze on crops like corn, beans, melons, and rice.
Reproduction
The breeding season for ocellated turkeys starts in early spring. Males gather together to perform elaborate mating displays for females. The toms puff up their feathers, spread their tails in fans, and emit loud gobbling sounds. Once females choose their mates, they break away in pairs to breed. The hens then build well-concealed ground nests lined with leaves and feathers. Between late March and July, they lay a clutch of 8-15 eggs. The eggs hatch after 28 days and the chicks follow their mother until reaching adulthood at around 5 months old.
Conservation Status
Due to hunting and habitat loss, ocellated turkey populations have declined significantly. They are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. Exact population numbers are uncertain but likely only number between 30,000 – 37,000 mature individuals. Ocellated turkeys are also listed on Appendix III of CITES which helps regulate international trade. Conservation efforts are underway across the species’ range to protect forests and promote sustainable land use.
Comparison to Domestic Turkeys
Trait | Ocellated Turkey | Domestic Turkey |
---|---|---|
Size | Up to 30 inches long, 5-13 lbs | Up to 4 feet long, over 40 lbs |
Color | Iridescent bronze, blue, green | Brown, gray, white |
Flight Capabilities | Can fly up to 55 mph | Cannot fly |
Range | Yucatan, Belize, Guatemala | Worldwide, domesticated |
Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
Conclusion
So in summary, the ocellated turkey is the wild relative of the domestic turkey. Both are large, ground-dwelling birds but the ocellated turkey can fly and has more colorful plumage. Its smaller size and ability to roost in trees also helps it survive in the tropical forests of Central America. So next time you see a turkey-like bird perched high in a tree, it just may be an ocellated turkey!