Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo is an introduced gamebird with scattered feral populations in New Zealand. It differs from peafowl through its heavy body, bare wattled head and broad tail fan without eyespots. Males are dark and iridescent with a bare red-and-blue head and a breast beard. Females are smaller and duller with less developed wattles.

Feral birds occur patchily in farmland and open woodland on both main islands. They often remain close to rough pasture, scrub and mature roost trees. They eat seeds, shoots, fruit and invertebrates while walking. Males gobble and display with fanned tails during the breeding season.

New Zealand classifies wild turkey as Introduced. Rural Hawke’s Bay and Northland sometimes hold roadside flocks, but locations are not dependable.