Of all the popular game birds pursued by hunters, the wild turkey stands out as one of the most prized and coveted. But did you know there are actually 6 existing species of wild turkey spread across different regions of North America? In this article, I’ll examine the distinguishing features, habitats and characteristics that define each type of wild turkey.
The Main 5 Wild Turkey Species
While once facing population declines, restoration efforts helped save wild turkeys from the brink of extinction Here are the 5 major wild turkey species found in the U.S today
1. Eastern Wild Turkey
The Eastern wild turkey is the most abundant and widely distributed subspecies, found across 38 states east of the Mississippi River and also in parts of Canada.
- Identifying Traits: Chestnut-brown tips on the tail, white and black barring on wings
- Range: Throughout the Eastern U.S.
- Size: Males 18-30 lbs, Females 8-12 lbs
- Vocalization: Very loud, frequent gobbles
- Difficulty: Moderate, not the hardest to lure in
2. Osceola Wild Turkey
The Florida wild turkey, also called Osceola turkey, is localized to Florida and known for being elusive
- Identifying Traits: Dark brown tail tips, mostly black wings, long legs
- Range: Florida
- Size: Males 20 lbs, Females 8-12 lbs
- Vocalization: Loud gobbles
- Difficulty: Very hard to call in
3. Rio Grande Wild Turkey
Preferring hot, arid climates, Rio Grandes are found in the desert regions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and western states.
- Identifying Traits: Tan tail tips, equal black & white barring on wings
- Range: Southwestern U.S.
- Size: Males 20 lbs, Females 8-12 lbs
- Vocalization: Moderate gobbles
- Difficulty: Moderate difficulty
4. Merriam’s Wild Turkey
Living in mountainous western regions, Merriam’s turkeys frequent the Rocky Mountains and other rugged terrain.
- Identifying Traits: White tail tips, high white to black ratio on wings
- Range: Western mountain ranges
- Size: Males 18-30 lbs, Females 8-12 lbs
- Vocalization: Weak gobbles
- Difficulty: Easy to call in
5. Gould’s Wild Turkey
The rarest species, Gould’s were reintroduced after disappearing from Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
- Identifying Traits: Long legs, white tail tips, moderate wing color
- Range: Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico
- Size: Males 18-30 lbs, Females 12-14 lbs
- Vocalization: Moderate gobbles
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Elusive 6th Species: Ocellated Turkey
In addition to the 5 wild turkey subspecies above, there is one more existing species – the Ocellated Turkey indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula and parts of Central America.
- Identifying Traits: Iridescent blue, bronze, gold coloration; bare head
- Range: Yucatan Peninsula, Northern Guatemala and Belize
- Size: Males 11-12 lbs, Females 6-7 lbs
- Vocalization: High pitched yelps, preceded by drumming sound
- Difficulty: N/A, not hunted
While ocellated turkeys are not hunted, their brilliant feathering makes them highly prized by nature lovers who travel to photograph them.
Hunting Different Turkey Species
Many diehard turkey hunters aim to complete a “Grand Slam” by bagging an individual bird from each major species. This requires dedication to understand the unique habitats, vocalizations and behaviors of each type of wild turkey.
While a challenging feat, the reward is experiencing first-hand the diversity of wild turkeys across North America. From the swamps of Florida to the forests of Maine, mountains of Colorado to the mesas of New Mexico, embarking on a wild turkey Grand Slam allows you to fully appreciate the uniqueness of these iconic game birds.
So whether you’re a novice or expert turkey hunter, learning to identify the different physical and vocal characteristics of the 6 wild turkey species can help lead you to successful hunts from coast to coast.
Frequency of Entities:
Eastern Wild Turkey – 5
Osceola Wild Turkey – 5
Rio Grande Wild Turkey – 4
Merriam’s Wild Turkey – 4
Gould’s Wild Turkey – 4
Ocellated Wild Turkey – 3
species – 10
subspecies – 2
birds/game birds – 3
vocalization/gobbles – 8
range/habitat – 6
identifying traits/characteristics – 6
difficulty – 5
size – 5
Grand Slam – 2
hunt/hunting – 4
Wild turkeys are among the most popular game animals in the world, but you will encounter different subspecies of the bird depending on the region of the country in which you live.
The American wild turkeys five subspecies are inherently challenging, incredibly alluring and unique in their own way. Each of the five subspecies display different physical and behavioral characteristics that define them. Get the 411 on each subspecies below:
Eastern wild turkeys are the most widely distributed subspecies east of the Mississippi River. They are also the most abundant. In fact, you can find them in 38 states and numerous Canadian provinces.
- Chestnut-brown tips on tail feathers
- White and black bars on the wings
- Adult males weigh 18 to 30 pounds
- Adult females weigh 8 to 12 pounds
- Very strong gobbles (strongest gobbles of all subspecies)
- Very long beards (longest beards of all subspecies)
- Second to the Osceola in difficulty of calling in
Osceola (Florida) wild turkey
The Florida wild turkey (also referred to as the Osceola) gets its name from its location. It’s only found in Florida. There are about 100,000 of them in Florida today.
- Dark-brown tips on tail feathers
- Mostly black wings with very small white bands
- Adult males weigh approximately 20 pounds
- Adult females weigh 8 to 12 pounds
- Long legs
- Strong gobbles
- Very long spurs
- Shorter beard-lengths than Easterns
- Considered the toughest species to call in
5 FACTS | Wild Turkey (True Facts)
FAQ
How many species of wild turkey exist in the world?
What are the 5 species of turkeys in North America?
How many different breeds of turkeys are there?
What is the biggest wild turkey breed?
How many species of wild turkey are there in the world?
The answer is one— Meleagris gallopavo. It may come as even more of a surprise that there are only two species of wild turkey in the world. The single North American wild turkey species, Meleagris gallopavo, comprises five unique subspecies. These five subspecies make up the entire wild turkey population in North America.
What are the 5 North American wild turkey subspecies?
The sections below discuss each subspecies in detail and provides information about population size, diet, habitat, and more. The five North American wild turkey subspecies are the eastern, Osceola, Merriam’s, Gould’s, and Rio Grande. This is a male (tom) eastern wild turkey.
How many wild turkeys are there in North America?
The wild turkey is one of the most widely distributed game animals in North America, with huntable numbers in every state except Alaska. Estimates put the country’s total population at about 7 million, made up of five different wild turkey subspecies.
What is a wild turkey?
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): an upland ground bird native to North America. There are five subspecies of North American wild turkeys: Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, Merriam’s, and Gould’s. The wild turkey is the heaviest member of the Galliformes order. The male typically weighs between 11 to 24 pounds and is 39 to 49 inches long.