The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1947 from the federal government. Mrs. August A. Busch Sr.
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Scientific Name
Meleagris gallopavo
Family
Phasianidae (pheasants) in the order Galliformes
Description
Adult wild turkey males are very large and dark with a bare, red and blue head, with red wattles on the throat and neck. They have long legs. The feathers are bronzy and iridescent. Males, and some females, have a tuft of hairlike feathers (a “beard”) in the middle of the breast. Females are smaller and less iridescent. Turkeys are most famous for their gobbling calls, but they make many other vocalizations as well.
Size
Length: 48 inches (tip of bill to tip of tail).
Where To Find
Statewide; most abundant in the Ozark Border, Glaciated Plains, and Ozark Natural Divisions.
Habitat and Conservation
A popular gamebird, the wild turkey is found in mixed forests and grasslands statewide. Like other ground nesters, their reproductive success may be greatly reduced by extensive precipitation at nesting time. In the 1950s, populations in the state were at an all-time low of fewer than 2,500 birds in 31 counties; in 2004, hunters checked nearly 61,000 turkeys. Successful management focuses on proper seasonal combinations of food, cover, and water.
Food
Wild turkeys forage by scratching in the leaves beneath hedgerows and leafy areas in forests. Acorns are the most important food, particularly in winter, but grass seeds, dogwood fruits, wild grapes, corn, oats, and wheat are important, too. Young turkeys eat mainly insects, which provide greater protein for their rapid growth.
Status
Uncommon permanent resident (rare in Osage Plains and in Mississippi Lowlands except along forested rivers).
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
Turkeys flock in winter. In spring, male turkeys (toms) begin gobbling to announce themselves to males and to attract females. Males perform elaborate strutting displays for females, spreading their tails like a peacock and puffing out their feathers. After mating, females care for the young alone, creating shallow nests on the ground. They lay about 10–14 eggs over a period of days, then incubate them for about a month. The precocial young are able to leave the nest within a day of hatching.
Human Connections
As one of the most popular gamebirds, turkeys are the main target of a large segment of the hunting industry. Humans are the turkey’s leading predator.
Ecosystem Connections
Many animals feed on the eggs and young of wild turkeys, and several predators feed on adults as well as young. The turkeys, in turn, are steady grazers on seeds, nuts, insects, and other foods.
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Adult male wild turkeys are very large and dark with a bare, red and blue head, with red wattles on the throat and neck.
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David Stonner
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A popular gamebird, the wild turkey is found in mixed forests and grasslands statewide.
Credit
Jim Rathert
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Successful management of wild turkey populations focuses on proper seasonal combinations of food, cover, and water.
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Jim Rathert
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Young turkey and other fowl are called poults.
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Jim Rathert
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Video of a wild turkey.
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Male wild turkeys make a gobbling sound, especially during mating season in the spring.
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David Stonner
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Noppadol Paothong
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Similar Species
Where to See Species
Caney Mountain Conservation Area is in Ozark County, five miles north of Gainsville.
Peck Ranch consists of 23,763 acres of rugged, forested hills and hollows. Limestone and rhyolite glades provide natural openings among the oak-pine forest that dominates the region.
Drury-Mincy Conservation Area is in southern Taney County, southeast of Branson, off of Route J.
This is a forest area that has an archery and firearms range. This area has unimproved roads that are open to public vehicles. These roads may not be shown on area maps or posted with signs.
About Birds in Missouri
About 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in Missouri, though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders. Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Birds are warm-blooded, and most species can fly. Many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. Birds lay hard-shelled eggs (often in a nest), and the parents care for the young. Many communicate with songs and calls.