WILD TURKEYS 
279 
Maine, southern Ontario and South Dakota. It is the southern Mexico 
form, with white-tipped upper tail-coverts, which is the ancestor of 
our domesticated Turkey. It was introduced from Mexico into Europe 
where it had become established as early as 1530, and was later brought 
by colonists to Eastern North America. It breeds freely with our Wild 
Turkey ( silvestris ) and where the birds of the woods come in contact 
with the inhabitants of the poultry yard, evidences of such alliances 
are not infrequent. 
310a. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Vieill. Wild Turkey. The Wild 
Turkey may be distinguished from the common domestic race chiefly 
by the chestnut instead of white tips to the upper tail-coverts and tail, “c? 
ad. L., about 48*00-50*00; W., 21*00; T., 18*50; weight 16-40 lbs.” (Ridgw.) 
Range. — E. U. S. from Neb., Kans., w. Okla., and e. Tex. e. to cen. Pa., 
and s. to the Gulf coast; formerly n. to S. D., s. Ont. and s. Maine. 
Washington, rare P. R. 
Nest, on the ground, at the base of a bush or tree. Eggs, 10-14, pale 
cream-buff, finely and evenly speckled with grayish brown, 2*45 x 1*95. 
Date, Pipemaker Swamp, Ga., Apl. 25; Ft. Smith, Ark., Apl. 3. 
This noblest of American birds is rapidly decreasing in numbers, and 
in comparatively few years will doubtless be found only in the parts of 
its range which are unfit for the habitation of man. 
Except during the breeding season, Wild Turkeys are found in 
small flocks of six to twelve or fifteen individuals of both sexes. They 
roost preferably in the trees in wooded bottom-lands, returning each 
night to the same locality. 
At the opening of the breeding season in March the male begins to 
gobble. As a rule, he calls only early in the morning, before leaving 
his roost. Later he sails to the ground and at once begins his search 
for breakfast, or, attracted by the plaintive piping of some female, he 
struts and displays his charms before her. It is at this time that bat- 
tles between the males occur. They are polygamists, and the victor 
becomes sultan of the harem. During the period of incubation, and 
while the young require their mother’s care, the females do not associate 
with the males, who then flock together. 
The calls of both sexes so closely resemble those of the domestic 
birds that it requires a practiced ear to distinguish them. In locali- 
ties where both birds might be expected to occur, I could never be 
sure whether I was listening to the challenge of some defiant gobbler 
perched in a cypress in the valley below, or to the vainglorious effort 
of the lord of the poultry yard. 
1909. Grinnell, G. B., Forest and Stream, 852, 891, 892 (biography). 
310b. M.. g. osceola Scott. Florida Turkey. Resembles M. g. 
silvestris, but is smaller, and the primaries, instead of being regularly and 
widely barred with white, as in that bird, have much smaller, broken white 
markings. Weight, & 12-22 lbs.; $ 4*75-9 lbs. (Scott, Auk, IX, 1892, FL5.) 
Range . — Southern Florida. / 
Nesting date, St. John’s River, Fla., Apl. 23. 
The Florida Wild Turkey is locally common in Southern Florida. 
