Walker Nature Center
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BRANCHING OUT
Nature Wild Turkeys: The Dish on a Feathered Fighter Notes SEPTEMBER By Sharon Gurtz
• • • •
Box Turtle young hatch. Snake young are born. Hummingbirds migrate to Central America. Fall warbler migration begins.
OCTOBER • • • •
Tulip Poplar and hickory trees have yellow leaves. Praying Mantises lay eggs. Asters bloom. Chipmunks and squirrels gather nuts for winter.
NOVEMBER • • • •
Viburnum shrub leaves turn red. First Dark-eyed Juncos return. Migratory waterfowl can be seen. Slugs and snails go into deep sleep.
By Susan Sims
Autumn is a perfect time to feature the “face” of the fall holidays–the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). These resilient birds should be honored with recognition for their adaptations, intelligence and survivability, though they often receive the dubious honor of “holiday entree.” Native to North America and Virginia, the wild turkey is different from its domesticated cousin, and has an historical connection to our forests. Although uncommon in Reston today, observant walkers are sometimes treated to an increasingly rare sighting.
Large and in Charge
Wild Turkeys have interesting physical features unique among birds. The turkey can grow up to 4 feet tall, the height of a wading bird like a Flamingo. With the average weight of a female, or hen, at 9 pounds and males at 17, that’s one big bird. The National Wild Turkey Federation clocks the largest male on record at 37 pounds! They have fun names, too. Baby males are called jakes, and females are jennies.
Male and female turkeys have featherless heads, and fleshy protrusions called wattles below their chins, but the males have additional features that differentiate them from females. The plumage of the male, or tom, is brighter and more iridescent, a palette of green, copper and violet. They have lengthy tailfeathers that spread out and are used to attract mates. A large flap of bright red flesh hangs over their bills, called a snood.
Another fun fact – male turkeys have beards, but they don’t grow on their chins! The beard is a projection of modified feathers that grows from the center of the breast like a poultry ponytail, growing up to 9 inches. While mostly males grow beards, some hens do, too. These unique features make the turkey stand out in the animal kingdom, but they’re also very adaptable to their environment.
Tough, Not Tender
Turkeys are omnivores, often found in oak-hickory forests in Virginia, where they eat acorns, nuts and berries.
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