Overview
The name of this turkey was derived from the Latin word oculus, meaning eye, because of the eye-shaped spot near the end of the tail feathers. The Ocellated turkey is easily distinguished from its North American cousin in appearance. The body feathers of both male and female birds have a bronze-green iridescent color mixture, although females sometimes appear duller in color with more green than bronze pigments. Unlike M. gallopavo subspecies, breast feathers of male and female Ocellated turkeys do not differ and cannot be used to determine sex. Neither male nor female hvae a beard. Tail feathers in both sexes are bluish-gray in color with a well defined, eye-shaped, blue-bronze colored spot near the end, followed by a bright gold tip. The upper, major secondary wing feathers is similar to M. gallopavo, but the secondaries contain more white coloration, especially on the outer edges. Both sexes have a blue-colored head and neck with distinctive orange to red, warty, caruncle-like growths called nodules, but they are more pronounced on males. The head of the male also has a fleshy blue crown behind the snood, which is adorned with yellow-orange nodules similar to those on the neck. During breeding season, this crown enlarges and the coloration of the nodules become more pronounced. Ocellated turkeys also have a distinct eye-ring of bright red colored skin, which is especially visible on the adult males during the breeding season. Legs of Ocellated turkeys are shorter and thinner than M. gallopavo and are red in color. Legs of adult males also have prominent spurs, longer and more attenuated than those of M. gallopavo. Spur lengths in males over one year old average at least 1.5 inches and spurs longer than two inches have been recorded. Ocellated turkeys are significantly smaller than any of the five subspecies of M. gallopavo.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Meleagris
- Species
- ocellata
Habitat
The Ocellated turkey has a geographic range of less than 50,000 square miles that encompasses northern Belize, the Peten region in northern Guatemala, and the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan as well as parts of southern Tabasco and northeastern Chiapas in Mexico.
Diet
Omnivorous.
Behavior
Wild turkeys generally move a mile or two in one day depending on habitat and distance to food and water sources. The annual home range of wild turkeys varies from 370 to 1,360 acres and contains a mixture of trees and grass cover. Just like humans, turkeys talk to communicate. Their vocabulary consists of 28 distinct calls. Each sound has a general meaning and can be used for different situations. Male turkeys are notorious for their iconic gobble, which unlike other calls, is given with a fixed intensity. Roosting in trees in an important element in the life of a wild turkey. It is a life-saving technique because roosting in trees helps birds avoid ground predators. Poults begin roosting from about 14-28 days old, depending on the sub-species, location and temperature. Turkeys may use traditional roost sites night after night but they generally use different sites and move from tree to tree. Turkeys usually select the largest trees available and roost as hight in them as they can comfortably perch. In fair weather, hardwood trees are favored, while hemlocks offer good protection from harsh elements. During the fall and winter seasons, it's common for turkeys to be in the good company of their equals. You'll see grouops of jakes, old and young hens and mature gobblers all sectioned out. The different flocks allow the birds to more easily determine dominance. In the spring, mating rituals begin. Wild turkeys dust, sun and preen from a young age, about 2-4 days old. Dusting is usually a flock activity. A dust bath is part of a bird's preening and plumage maintenance that keeps feathers in top condition. Turkeys will flap frantically in the dirt to spread dust over their entire body. Doing so keeps feathers from becoming greasy or matted. Sunning and preening often follow a dust bath as part of their extensive grooming regimen. Sunning birds recline on one side and extend the upward wing and leg to expose a large surface area to direct sunlight. Birds sun for several reasons: to obtain heat as a way of regulating their body temperature, maintain feather health, dislodge feather parasites and for relaxation. Preening is a common bird behavior to keep feathers in good shape. Birds preen to remove dust, dirt and parasites from their feathers. They also align each feather in the optimum position relative to adjacent feathers and body shape.
Hunting
The bird is considered endangered in Belize and is protected by law.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.