Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Synopsis:
Nests locally in many wooded parts of the state, as a result of
introductions of birds by sportsmen at various times
during recent decades. It is uncertain which of the populations shown on the
range map are naturally self-sustaining, and which
are sustained mostly from periodic release of captive birds or wandering of
individuals from domestic flocks. The species has
perhaps been found the longest in the Rogue and Umpqua Valleys in the
west, and in the White River Valley (Wasco County) in
the east. Notable are the records from northeastern Josephine County
and parts of Wallowa County.
Habitat Associations:
strongest
Siskiyou Mtns Mixed Deciduous Forest (139686 acres)
White Oak Forest (99735 acres)
South coast Mixed Forest (2888 acres)
strong
Jeffery Pine Forest/Woodland (31992 acres)
Douglas Fir-Mixed Deciduous Forest (2296 acres)
Douglas Fir/White Oak Forest (117817 acres)
Ponderosa Pine/White Oak Forest & Woodland (137800 acres)
Siskiyou Mtns Shrubland on Serpentine Bedrock (18170 acres)
some
Shasta Red Fir-Mountain Hemlock Forest (49404 acres)
Northeast Mixed Conifer Forest (970810 acres)
Douglas Fir-W. Hemlock-W. Red Cedar Forest (2428725 acres)
Douglas Fir-White Fir/Tanoak-Madrone Mixed Forest (878563 acres)
Ponderosa Pine Forest/Woodland (1350706 acres)
Douglas Fir dominant - Mixed Conifer Forest (1823908 acres)
Ponderosa Pine-W. Juniper Woodland (37713 acres)
Mixed Conifer/Mixed Deciduous Forest (467239 acres)
Northeast Canyon Grass & Shrubland (253756 acres)
Edges of Recently Cutover/Burnt Forest (789590 acres)
lesser
W. Juniper Woodland (644349 acres)
Red Alder (33506 acres)
Manzanita-dominant Shrubland (3808 acres)
Grassland & Fir-Ponderosa Interspersed (159586 acres)
Western Oregon Riverine Woodland (10797 acres)
Streamside/Wetland Shrubland (404 acres)
Relative Detectability:
Many Oregon birds are somewhat unwary. Easily
detected by calls.
Challenge:
Watch to see which of the introduced populations spread.