The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is one of two species of turkey, the other being the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) found in the Yucatán Peninsula in Central America.
Subspecies of the Meleagris gallopavo include the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), Osceola or Florida (M. g. osceola), Rio Grande (M. g. intermedia), Merriam’s (M. g. merriami), Gould’s (M. g. mexicana), and South Mexican (M. g. gallopavo—not shown on map).
Learn more about wild turkey subspecies at the National Wild Turkey Foundation.
Read “Talking Turkey” in the Winter 2009 issue.