A large bird native to North America. Wild males have dark iridescent plumage; females are smaller and duller.
It spreads its tail like a fan. Wild males have throat wattles, and their head colour varies with season, including red, blue and white.
Wild Turkey males may form partnerships of two to four similarly aged birds to court females and oppose competing males. A coalition contains a leading male and one or more helpers, bringing cooperation into a highly competitive part of reproduction.
From 1999 to 2004, researchers followed an introduced, free-living population in California. Genetic analysis of six coalitions showed that display partners were more closely related than males selected randomly from the population. Their association therefore involved close relatives.
None of eight helpers was identified as the father of sampled offspring. Leading males had more assigned offspring than solitary displaying males. When a close relative reproduces, genes shared with a helper can also reach the next generation. The author calculated this indirect benefit as an explanation for the evolution of helping.
IUCN Red List · Least Concern · Global
The global assessment dated 9 August 2018 lists Wild Turkey as Least Concern, based on its broad range and large population. New York’s environmental agency highlights landscapes mixing mature forest, grassland, young forest and agriculture. Poor cover for broods can increase vulnerability to predators, making habitat quality relevant to regional management.