![]() ![]() Wild turkeys are normally very shy birds, but toms do sometimes exhibit aggressive behavior towards people, particularly during the breeding season. Within the past 15 years, wild turkeys have begun to appear more often in suburban settings. The researchers found that since turkeys are often visible in the fields during the day, they were blamed for crop damage that they did not cause. While wild turkeys do sometimes damage corn, soybeans, and small grains (i.e., winter wheat or oats), researchers in Indiana found that a majority of wildlife-related crop damage is caused by the nocturnal feeding of raccoons, white-tailed deer, and small mammals. The potential for conflicts between wild turkeys and people will increase as the wild turkey population grows and human activity and development increases in turkey habitat.įarmers are often concerned about crop damage caused by wild turkeys. Wild turkeys that survive to adulthood may reach 10 years of age, though most do not live that long.Ĭlick to expand. It is not uncommon for 50 percent or more of poults to die during their first six weeks. During this time period, they are very susceptible to cold, rainy weather and to predators. Poults are ready to leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching but are unable to fly until they are 10 to 12 days old. Young turkeys are cared for only by the hen. Hens are very sensitive to disturbance while nesting and are likely to abandon their eggs if they are startled from the nest. Incubation is done by the hen only and lasts for about 28 days. Wild turkeys lay an average of 10 to 12 eggs, approximately one egg a day until the hen has a full clutch. Hens build their nests on the ground in shallow depressions that they scratch out in grasses or leaves, often against the base of woody vegetation. Photo: Adele Hodde, IDNR A turkey hen crossing a road with her poults. Only about 10 percent of hens have beards.Ĭheck out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website about the wild turkey for audio clips, ID information, and life history.Ĭlick to expand. While hens have wattles, caruncles, and a snood, they are not as large or well developed as those of a tom. During the spring mating season, the wattles and caruncles of a tom may be bright red, white, or blue. However, hens have an overall lighter appearance because their breast feathers are tipped with brown, while those of a tom are tipped with black.īesides being larger and darker, toms can generally be distinguished from hens by their leg spurs, beards, wattles (folds of skin below the beak), caruncles (wart-like growths on the neck), and snood (fleshy appendage above the beak). Photo: IDNR image gallery A tom (male) turkey displaying his feathers on a snowy day.īoth sexes have dark, iridescent feathers that display shades of bronze, red, purple, blue, and green. Contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist.Hikers: Be alert for "aggressive" animals.Rare Visitors to Illinois: Large Carnivores.Repair Damage: What to Know Before Making Repairs. ![]()
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