Wild Turkey

1. Very large size and distinctive turkey silhouette with a small head on a long neck

2. Males display iridescent bronze plumage, bare red-blue head, and a beard

3. Loud gobbling calls, especially from males during breeding season, can carry over a kilometre

Wild Turkeys are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on acorns, seeds, insects, berries, and small reptiles. Breeding occurs from August to December, with females (hens) making simple ground nests hidden in vegetation. Hens lay 1–14 eggs per clutch and incubate them alone for about 28 days. Despite their size, Wild Turkeys are strong fliers, capable of short bursts up to 9 km/h to reach roosts or escape danger. They are also fast runners, reaching speeds of 4 km/h on the ground. They roost in trees at night, sometimes as high as 15 metres off the ground, to avoid predators.

Wild Turkeys inhabit wooded areas and agricultural lands on Kangaroo Island and possibly other southern islands. They are often seen foraging in small flocks during the cooler parts of the day, scratching through leaf litter or wandering across open paddocks near forest edges. At night, they roost in large trees, sometimes up to 15 metres off the ground, and can be spotted from a distance due to their size`.`