Photo: Bruno Girin / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ocellated Turkey
Meleagris ocellata
Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) — Gamebirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 5.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
- Genus Meleagris
- Species ocellata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ocellated Turkey is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Ocellated Turkey is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a member of the Phasianidae family, within the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA se Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 kg, with a wing length of about 36.3 cm and a tail of around 30.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 142,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ocellated Turkey?
The Ocellated Turkey is a very large bird that weighs around 5.5 kg.
Where does the Ocellated Turkey live?
The Ocellated Turkey is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA se Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Ocellated Turkey belong to?
The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Ocellated Turkey eat?
The Ocellated Turkey is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Ocellated Turkey migrate?
The Ocellated Turkey is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ocellated Turkey endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Ocellated Turkey make?
1 real field recording of the Ocellated Turkey — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ocellated Turkey's range?
The Ocellated Turkey has a mapped global range of about 142,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Phasianidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
More in Game Birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable