4 WILD TURKEY 



HEATH HEN 

 Tympanuchus cupido 



This is a close relative of the Prairie Hen, having the 

 black neck-tuft of less than ten feathers with pointed, 

 not rounded, ends. It is now found only on the Island of 

 Martha's Vineyard, but formerly inhabited plains or 

 barrens, locally, from New Jersey to Massachusetts. It 

 nests in June. 



TURKEYS. FAMILY MBLEAGRID^I 

 WILD TURKEY 



' Meleagris gallopavo silvestris 



The Wild Turkey was formerly found as far north as Maine 

 and Ontario but it is unknown now north of central Pennsylvania. 

 South of Maryland it is not uncommon locally. 



Range. Kansas and central Pennsylvania to the Gulf coast, 

 and northern Florida. Non-migratory. 



Washington, rare P. R. 



Our domestic Turkey is descended from the Mexican 

 Wild Turkey an like that race has the upper tail-coverts 

 and tail tipped with whitish, whereas in our eastern 

 Wild Turkey these tips are chestnut. The nest is on the 

 ground and 10-14 eggs, pale cream-color finely speckled 

 with brownish, are laid in April. 



The Florida Wild Turkey (M. g. osceola), of southern 

 Florida, is smaller and the white bars on the primaries 

 are narrower and more broken. 



