[Length 37 (Female) to 46 (Male) in. Wingspan 50 (F) to 64 (M) in.]

Wild Turkeys are locally common in open woodlands with clearings throughout much of the US, except for the Great Lakes states and the Great Basin area in the west. Although their populations were dramatically reduced due to habitat destruction and over-hunting, they have been re-introduced in many areas, and are now considered a very challenging game bird for hunters. Indeed, it is quite amazing to see such a large bird simply vanish into the woodlands as they skillfully keep trees and other objects between you and themselves while making their escape. Wild Turkeys are best known for the displays that the males use to attract females and intimidate other males. After fanning their long tail feathers, they cock their tail up behind them, puff out their chests, and droop their wings in an effort to look as impressive and as large as possible. This displaying male was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm EDAF f2.8 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 37 (Female) to 46 (Male) in. Wingspan 50 (F) to 64 (M) in.]

These Wild Turkeys were photographed at Lopez Lake State Park, CA. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 37 (Female) to 46 (Male) in. Wingspan 50 (F) to 64 (M) in.]

These Wild Turkeys were photographed at Lopez Lake State Park, CA. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 37 (Female) to 46 (Male) in. Wingspan 50 (F) to 64 (M) in.]

This female Wild Turkey was photographed at South Llano River State Park, Junction, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=300mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: April 7, 2006)

[Length 11-12 in. Wingspan xx in.]

This Black-fronted Wood-Quail was photographed at the ProAves El Dorado Reserve, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Department Magdalena, Colombia. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: June 9, 2009)

[Length 11-12 in. Wingspan xx in.]

This Black-fronted Wood-Quail was photographed at the ProAves El Dorado Reserve, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Department Magdalena, Colombia. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=330mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: June 9, 2009)