- Eastern wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)
- Osceola wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo osceola)
- Rio Grande wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia)
- Merriam’s wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo merriami)
- Gould’s wild turkey. (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana)
What are the four types of turkey?
Types of Turkeys
- Rio Grande Wild Turkey. Photo Credit: AgriLife Extension. Rio Grande wild turkeys are found in the desert areas of western states.
- Merriam’s Wild Turkey. Photo Credit: Nebraskaland Magazine.
- Gould’s Wild Turkey. Photo Credit: Arizona Hunting.
- Ocellated Wild Turkey. Photo Credit: Animal Spot.
What is the biggest wild turkey breed?
The Gould’s turkey is a bird of the mountainous areas of this region. It is the largest of the five subspecies and resembles the Merriam’s turkey. They have longer legs, larger feet, and larger center tail feathers than any of the other wild turkey subspecies in North America.
What are the different types of turkey?
Wild turkeyLower classifications
What type of turkey is a wild turkey?
The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an upland ground bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey, and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes.
How many types of wild turkey are there?
Wild turkeyLower classifications
What is the most common type of turkey?
Broad Breasted White
1. Broad Breasted White. When it comes to domestic turkeys in America, the Broad Breasted White is the most common.
What is the hardest turkey to hunt?
1. Easterns: Hunter pressure in tight habitats make this subspecies the most difficult in the country. More turkey hunters roam Eastern states than any of the others. An Alabama Eastern three-year-old longbeard might be the most difficult turkey of all.
What state has the most wild turkeys?
What makes Alabama a standout for turkey hunting is really two things: it has the largest turkey population (except Texas in some years), and hunters can harvest up to five turkeys over the fall and spring seasons, at a limit of one per day.
What is the biggest predator for turkey?
Bobcats and great horned owls
“The lion’s share of that is going to be predation. “In adults, bobcats are probably No. 1 for adult turkeys followed by great horned owls, which is one people don’t think about. We have several species, but great horned owls are the largest we have.
What is the best turkey to eat?
In an Epicurious taste-test of six supermarket turkeys, a fresh Bell & Evans turkey was their top choice, due to its tender meat, authentic turkey flavor and attractive outer skin. (The birds are also bred to grow at a slower pace, causing them to have broad, juicy breasts.)
What type of turkey tastes the best?
Heritage turkey meat is tender and very flavorful, tasting more like a wild turkey than it’s industrially-raised counterpart. For some, this natural flavor can come off as slightly gamey. Heritage turkeys are the most expensive type of turkey you can get.
What kind of turkey is best?
Which Turkey to Buy
- DO: Look for a Natural or Organic frozen turkey, ideally one that was “pastured”—allowed to roam outside.
- DON’T: Buy a “basted,” “self-basted” or “injected” turkey because those birds are usually factory-farmed and injected with additives to make them bigger.
Do wild turkeys bond with humans?
Turkeys are highly social, affectionate and love to play. If you toss an apple to a group of turkeys, they will play with it like a football. They create long-lasting social bonds with each other and with humans.
What are the five species of wild turkey?
America’s 5 Wild Turkey Subspecies
- Eastern Turkey Subspecies. Eastern turkeys are the most populous in the country with a flock size of about 5.3 million.
- Merriam’s Turkey Subspecies.
- Rio Grande Turkey Subspecies.
- Gould’s Turkey Subspecies.
- Osceola Turkey Subpecies.
Can a wild turkey hurt a human?
Wild turkeys that adapt to urban or suburban communities, especially young and mature males during the breeding season, can become quite aggressive towards people. Rarely do they cause serious damage, although they often will chase and harass children.
What is a white wild turkey called?
Rarer, though, are albinos, a condition marked by white skin and feathers along with light pink or red eyes. Seeing an albino turkey would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: It’s estimated that only 1 in 100,000 Wild Turkeys is albino. Their eye-catching plumage also puts them at greater risk of an early demise.
What is the biggest turkey?
86 lb
Fun fact: The heaviest turkey in the world weighed 86 lb
In 1989, a stag turkey named Tyson weighed 86 lb. (39.09 kg), earning it the Guinness World Record of the greatest dressed weight recorded for a turkey.
What is the rarest turkey in the world?
The Auburn
The Auburn, also known as the Light Brown, is a breed of domestic turkey. A heritage turkey, the Auburn is one of the rarest varieties currently in existence. It has been referenced by name in written records since the 18th century, and is named after the light reddish-brown color of its plumage.
What turkey has the best meat?
So, when it comes to the best-tasting turkey breed, it’s very likely that any heritage breed will taste better than commercial breeds, with Midget White and Bourbon Red perching at the top of the list.
What turkey is best for meat?
9 Best Turkey Breeds for Meat
- Beltsville Small White Turkey.
- Black Spanish Turkey.
- Bourbon Red Turkey.
- Broad-Breasted White Turkey.
- Bronze Turkey.
- Midget White Turkey.
- Royal Palm Turkey.
- Slate Turkey.