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Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Bird · family Phasianidae · order Galliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Wild Turkey
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
38 states[3]
Longest recorded life
13 years[4]

The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large ground-feeding bird in the family Phasianidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to 38 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Wild Turkey a global rank of G5 and a US national rank of N5, and both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. Listings can change by federal rule.

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Wild Turkey lives

NatureServe lists the Wild Turkey as native in 38 US states and territories, including Alabama, Texas, New York, Wisconsin and Arizona[3]. It is introduced, which means people brought it there and it is not native, in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and Wyoming[8]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the bird, so it is not a promise you will see one.

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S4VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4NHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: introduced, state rank SNAMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: native, state rank S4DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS4Apparently Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireS4Apparently Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS4Apparently Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the Wild Turkey in hardwood and mixed forest, woodland, shrubland, old fields and cropland with hedgerows[10]. It also uses farm areas in some regions, which can supply useful food in winter[11]. It sleeps in trees at night and usually nests on the ground near the edge of woods[11]. Hard winters or too little winter habitat can limit it in many northern areas[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

NatureServe records the typical length as 117 cm (46 in)[12]. The bird eats seeds, nuts, acorns, fruits, grains and buds, and it eats many insects in summer[13]. One estimate puts its diet at 40% other plant material, 20% seeds, 20% invertebrates and 20% fruit[14]. A typical clutch is 11 eggs, and incubation lasts 28 days[15][16]. Females reach breeding age at about 304 days[17]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 13 years, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[12] 117 cm (46 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 7.4 kg (16 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 13 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[15] 11
Gestation or incubation[16] 28 days
Female maturity[17] 304 days (about 0.8 years)
Food habits[19] Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[20] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 40% other plant material
  • 20% seeds
  • 20% invertebrates
  • 20% fruit

When to look for it

The Wild Turkey is active by day, and NatureServe notes it is busiest in early morning and late afternoon[21][22]. It is a non-migrant, though populations can differ[20]. Hatching starts in May in the south and usually in early June in the north[23]. On GBIF, most records fall in March, April and May, which shows when people look and report, not how many birds there are[24].

January: 141,269 recordsJanFebruary: 155,068 recordsFebMarch: 225,760 recordsMarApril: 428,525 recordsAprMay: 461,443 recordsMayJune: 208,344 recordsJunJuly: 149,664 recordsJulAugust: 148,719 recordsAugSeptember: 161,689 recordsSepOctober: 138,243 recordsOctNovember: 107,386 recordsNovDecember: 121,720 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January141,269
February155,068
March225,760
April428,525
May461,443
June208,344
July149,664
August148,719
September161,689
October138,243
November107,386
December121,720

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Wild Turkey as present in 157 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 133 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Wild Turkey endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].
Where does the Wild Turkey live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 38 US states and territories, such as Alabama, Texas and New York[3]. It is introduced in states such as California, Oregon and Utah[8].
What does the Wild Turkey eat?
It eats seeds, nuts, acorns, fruits, grains and buds, and many insects in summer[13]. One estimate gives 40% other plant material, 20% seeds, 20% invertebrates and 20% fruit[14].
How big is a Wild Turkey?
NatureServe records a typical length of 117 cm (46 in)[12].
How long does a Wild Turkey live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 13 years[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Wild Turkey is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Wild Turkey: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Wild Turkey as native in 38 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 13 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a bird in the family Phasianidae, order Galliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe lists Wild Turkey as introduced (not native) in: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Wild Turkey (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Wild Turkey: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Wild Turkey. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 117 cm (46 in). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Wild Turkey. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 40% other plant material, 20% seeds, 20% invertebrates, 20% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 11. AnAge
  16. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 28 days. AnAge
  17. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 304 days (about 0.8 years). AnAge
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 7.4 kg (16 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe migration category for Wild Turkey: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on phenology for Wild Turkey. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Wild Turkey. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Wild Turkey in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Wild Turkey as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Wild Turkey: California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.