{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "turkey",
  "name": "Wild Turkey",
  "scientificName": "Meleagris gallopavo",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large ground-dwelling bird native to the forests and fields of North America and the ancestor of the familiar farmyard turkey. Toms can weigh up to 8 kg and are known for their bald, colourful heads and fanned tail displays. They forage on acorns, seeds, insects, and berries, run at up to 40 km/h, and manage strong short bursts of flight. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Galliformes",
    "family": "Phasianidae",
    "genus": "Meleagris"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 8,
    "lengthM": 1.2,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 10
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Meleagris gallopavo"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore — acorns, seeds, insects, and berries"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Forests and fields of North America"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "3–10 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "3–8 kg (6.6–18 lb); toms larger than hens"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) running; strong short flight"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Wild turkey native to forests of the United States and northern Mexico — reintroduced across North America.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Meleagris gallopavo.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Meleagris%20gallopavo&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Meleagris gallopavo. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Meleagris_gallopavo/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/turkey/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/turkey/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}