Wild Turkey

(Meleagris gallopavo)

Information
Photos
Slideshows
Videos
Sightings

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Wild Turkey - Featured photo — Photo by Lynn Rubey

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
SNA - Not applicable

Minnesota

not listed

Description

Size

Male: 36″ to 42″ in length, 66″ wingspan

Female: 36″ in length, 48″ wingspan

Voice

Similar Species

No similar species

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed woodlands, riparian woodlands.

Ecology

Migration

Nesting

Diet

Distribution

Occurrence

Reintroduced. Locally common year-round resident.

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (Birds)

Order

Galliformes (Landfowl)

Family

Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)

Genus

Meleagris (Turkeys)

Subordinate Taxa

Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)

Florida Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo osceola)

Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami)

Gould’s Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana)

Rio Grande Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia)

South Mexican Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

Synonyms

Ardea sellardsi

Visitor Photos

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Kirk Nelson

Wild Turkey 48 — Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington Education and Visitor Center

Wild turkey, early evening at the Visitors’ Center

Wild Turkey 13 — Wild turkey hens with about a dozen poults (that I saw). Most of them walked off into the woods, but several flew into the trees.

Strutting tom and hen near the visitors' center, Fort Snelling State Park

Gregory Gilman

Galliforme

Dan W. Andree

Wild Turkey Nest & Eggs...

I came across it on a prairie in Norman Co. Mn. 6-27-23. There were a bunch of small brush like shrubs in one corner of the prairie and I walked past and a turkey pretty much kind of ran out and off across the prairie a distance away. It stopped and made some soft sounds so I took a couple photos and left.

I didn’t touch the eggs etc. and the Turkey hen was waiting for me to leave to get back to her eggs. First time I ever seen wild turkey eggs and nest. Just thought I’d share this.

Wild Turkeys....

Wild Turkey 35 — A bunch of them near a county paved road. They all looked pretty healthy and numerous. One would think wild turkey hunting would be pretty good.

Wild Turkey 36 — Wild Turkeys and Autumn Woodlands...

Wild Turkeys....

Wild Turkey 16 — Three tom turkeys rural Norman co. Mn. on April 10, 2018. They were all displaying like the one on the gravel back road to the females which were just inside the woods. The two off the road in the snow seen me so quit fanning their tails etc. and all three eventually wandered into the woods.

Wild Turkey 15 — One in the open - one in the brush.

Kim R Harcey

Turkey came to vist at my 2nd floor dining room window!

Molly and Robert Power

Ramona Abrego

Margot Avey

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Lynn Rubey

Wild Turkey 17 — A flock of Wild Turkey Hens in Ortonville, Mn.

Wayne Rasmussen

Tom Baker

Minnesota Seasons Photos

Slideshows

Wild Turkey
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Wild Turkey
JMC Nature Photos

Wild Turkeys
Craig A. Mullenbach

About

Visitor Videos

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Kim R Harcey

Turkey strutting in the snow!
May 9, 2026

About

Turkeys everywhere!
May 9, 2026

About

Dan W. Andree

Jan. 2015 Wild Turkeys near the Gary Pines, Mn.
Published on Feb 18, 2015

About

Visitor Sightings

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Kirk Nelson
5/18/2025

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington Education and Visitor Center

Gregory Gilman
6/2/2025

Location: Rochester, MN

Aaand the rooster...

Gregory Gilman
5/30/2025

Location: Rochester, MN

The Wild Turkey Hen.

Dan W. Andree
6/27/2023

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I didn’t touch the eggs etc. and the Turkey hen was waiting for me to leave to get back to her eggs. First time I ever seen wild turkey eggs and nest. Just thought I’d share this.

Kim R Harcey
3/24/2023

Location: Cambridge, MN

Kim R Harcey
3/12/2023

Location: Cambridge, MN

Kim R Harcey
1/5/2023

Location: Cambridge, MN

Dan W. Andree
10/6/2022

Location: Near Twin Valley, Mn

A bunch of them near a county paved road. They all looked pretty healthy and numerous. One would think wild turkey hunting would be pretty good.

Bonnie
5/4/2021

Location: Yellow Medicine County

My back yard just 1 huge male

Molly and Robert Power
3/24/2021

Location: Albany MN

Ramona Abrego

Location: Northfield area

Kirk Nelson
4/11/2020

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Wild Turkey - Jake

Kirk Nelson
12/31/2019

Location: Banning State Park

Saw some wild turkey tracks in the snow along the Skunk Cabbage Trail next to the Kettle River.

Margot Avey
7/25/2019

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Kirk Nelson
5/12/2019

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Long Meadow Lake Unit

Wild turkey, early evening at the Visitors’ Center

Lynn Rubey
10/29/2018

Location: Ortonville, Mn

A Wild Turkey Hen.

Dan W. Andree
4/10/2018

Location: rural Norman co. Mn.

Three tom turkeys rural Norman co. Mn. on April 10, 2018. They were all displaying like the one on the gravel back road to the females which were just inside the woods. The two off the road in the snow seen me so quit fanning their tails etc. and all three eventually wandered into the woods.

Margot Avey
4/10/2017