What the sources say
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Wild Turkey profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 54 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018
Meleagris gallopavo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679525A132051953.
- The page saysthe Red List rates it Least Concern
- The source says
Least Concern
Note: GBIF's copy of the Red List checked: LC for Meleagris gallopavo, taxon 22679525 - The page saysLeast Concern
- The source says
Least Concern
Note: GBIF's copy of the Red List checked: LC for Meleagris gallopavo, taxon 22679525
Source
02
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- The page saysGobbles heard up to a mile away
- The source says
A male’s gobble can be heard up to one mile (1.6 kilometers) away!
- The page sayseast of the Rocky Mountains in the United States
- The source says
Their range stretches through most of the U.S., east of the Rocky Mountains
- The page saysAcorns, nuts, berries, seeds and leaves, plus insects and salamanders
- The source says
where they eat acorns, nuts, berries, seeds and leaves as well as small animals like insects and salamanders
- The page saysA gobble that can be heard up to a mile away
- The source says
A male’s gobble can be heard up to one mile (1.6 kilometers) away!
- The page saysThat gobble can be heard up to a mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
- The source says
A male’s gobble can be heard up to one mile (1.6 kilometers) away!
- The page saysThe gobble is one of at least 15 different wild turkey calls that biologists have identified.
- The source says
biologists have identified at least 15 different vocalizations, including the male’s gobble
- The page saysA wild turkey rarely flies more than 100 yards (91 meters), but in the air it can hit up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour). It can swim, too.
- The source says
Wild turkeys rarely fly more than 100 yards (91 meters) but they can fly quickly – up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour). They can even swim!
- The page saysA male stands about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and weighs 15 to 25 pounds (6.8 to 11.3 kilograms).
- The source says
Male wild turkeys stand about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and weigh 15 to 25 pounds (6.8 to 11.3 kilograms).
- The page saysA female stands about 3 feet (1 meter) tall
- The source says
Females are about 3 feet (1 meter) tall.
- The page saysWild turkeys are the heaviest members of Galliformes, the order that includes chickens, quails and pheasants.
- The source says
Wild turkeys are the heaviest members of the order Galliformes , which includes chickens, quails and pheasants, among others.
- The page saysacross most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, with pockets in northern Montana and central California
- The source says
Their range stretches through most of the U.S., east of the Rocky Mountains, with pockets living in northern Montana, central California
- The page saysBy day they graze on acorns, nuts, berries, seeds and leaves, plus insects and salamanders.
- The source says
They spend most of their time grazing in grasslands and forests where they eat acorns, nuts, berries, seeds and leaves as well as small animals like insects and salamanders.
- The page saysAt night they roost in trees.
- The source says
roost in trees to sleep at night
- The page saysThe Smithsonian puts a wild turkey's lifespan at about three to five years
- The source says
A wild turkey’s lifespan is about three to five years.
- The page saysA hen nests in a shallow scrape in the ground ringed by deep vegetation, and lays eight to 15 eggs, which she incubates for 25 to 31 days.
- The source says
They make nests, which are shallow scrapes in the ground surrounded by deep vegetation. The mother makes the nests and lays eight to 15 eggs, which she incubates for 25 to 31 days.
- The page saysThe chicks can feed themselves within a day of hatching.
- The source says
Once hatched, the chicks can feed themselves within a day of hatching.
- The page saysFathers are not involved in raising the young.
- The source says
Fathers are not involved in raising the young.
- The page saysSome hens practise egg dumping, a tactic where they lay eggs in another female's nest.
- The source says
Some female wild turkeys lay eggs in another females’ nest, a tactic known as egg dumping.
- The page saysThey can even use the nests of ruffed grouse.
- The source says
They can lay eggs in another turkey’s nest, or in the nests of ruffled grouse.
- The page saysThe wild turkey was once a species in decline.
- The source says
Now plentiful and abundant, the wild turkey was once a species in decline.
- The page saysReleasing captive-bred birds did not work.
- The source says
Releasing captive-bred wild turkeys didn’t work.
- The page saysInstead, conservationists captured wild turkeys from one area and moved them to others.
- The source says
conservationists captured wild turkeys from one area and transplanted them to others
- The page saysMales are the heavyweights at 6.8 to 11.3 kg (15 to 25 pounds).
- The source says
weigh 15 to 25 pounds (6.8 to 11.3 kilograms)
- The page saysNo bird in the order that holds chickens, quails and pheasants outweighs a wild turkey.
- The source says
Wild turkeys are the heaviest members of the order Galliformes , which includes chickens, quails and pheasants, among others.
- The page saysAbout three to five years, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
- The source says
A wild turkey’s lifespan is about three to five years.
- The page saysYes, and fast: up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 km/h).
- The source says
they can fly quickly – up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour)
- The page saysThey rarely go more than 100 yards (91 m) at a time, though.
- The source says
Wild turkeys rarely fly more than 100 yards (91 meters)
- The page saysA wild turkey rarely flies more than 100 yards (91 meters), but in the air it can hit up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour).
- The source says
Wild turkeys rarely fly more than 100 yards (91 meters) but they can fly quickly – up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour).
- The page saysflight at up to 54 mph
- The source says
they can fly quickly – up to 54 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour)
- The page saysto a male's 1.2 meters
- The source says
Male wild turkeys stand about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall
- The page saysFemales are smaller, standing about 1 meter (3 feet) tall
- The source says
Females are about 3 feet (1 meter) tall.
- The page saysToday the Smithsonian calls it plentiful and abundant
- The source says
Now plentiful and abundant, the wild turkey was once a species in decline.
- The page saysA displaying male struts with his tail fanned, wings dragging on the ground and head thrown back, then gobbles loud enough to carry a mile.
- The source says
A male’s gobble can be heard up to one mile (1.6 kilometers) away!
Note: vibe.reason, second part
Source
03
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Meleagris gallopavo (wild turkey). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysHardwood and mixed forests with scattered clearings, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States
- The source says
Wild turkeys prefer hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with scattered openings
- The page saysstruts with his tail fanned out, wings lowered and dragging on the ground, back feathers erect and head thrown back
- The source says
"strutting" with their tail fanned out, their wings lowered and dragging on the ground, their back feathers erect, their head thrown back
- The page saysIn spring a displaying male struts
- The source says
during the spring, males will fan out their tails, strut and "gobble" in an attempt to attract and retain a harem of females
- The page saysIts job is to attract females and drive off rival males.
- The source says
The "gobble" is give primarily by males with the purpose of attracting females and repelling competing males.
- The page saysusually weighs 3.6 to 5.4 kilograms
- The source says
Hens usually weigh 3.6 to 5.4 kg.
- The page saysA male has a red wattle, a fleshy lobe hanging from his throat
- The source says
They have a red wattle (a fleshy lobe that hangs down from the chin or throat)
- The page saysa head that turns red, white or blue depending on the season
- The source says
The heads of adult males (called gobblers) are red, blue, or white depending on the season.
- The page saysThey live in hardwood and mixed forests with scattered clearings
- The source says
Wild turkeys prefer hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with scattered openings
- The page saysthe oldest known wild turkey lived at least 13
- The source says
The oldest known wild turkey lived at least 13 years.
- The page saysMale wild turkeys court with noise and theatre.
- The source says
Wild turkeys use vocalizations and physical displays to communicate.
- The page saysBig, colour-changing and up a tree at night
- The source says
The heads of adult males (called gobblers) are red, blue, or white depending on the season.
- The page saysA displaying male struts with his tail fanned, wings dragging on the ground and head thrown back, then gobbles loud enough to carry a mile.
- The source says
"strutting" with their tail fanned out, their wings lowered and dragging on the ground, their back feathers erect, their head thrown back
Note: vibe.reason; same source as the body claim
Source
04
The Franklin Institute
Did Benjamin Franklin Want The National Bird To Be A Turkey? The Franklin Institute.
- The page saysThe Franklin Institute calls that a myth.
- The source says
The story about Benjamin Franklin wanting the National Bird to be a turkey is just a myth.
- The page saysin a letter to his daughter, that the eagle design for the Great Seal looked more like a turkey, and he called the turkey "a much more respectable Bird" than the eagle
- The source says
a letter Franklin wrote to his daughter criticizing the original eagle design for the Great Seal, saying that it looked more like a turkey ... the turkey is “a much more respectable Bird
- The page saysHe did not propose it as a national symbol.
- The source says
he did not propose it become one of America’s most important symbols
- The page saysHe did not put it forward as a national symbol.
- The source says
he did not propose it become one of America’s most important symbols
- The page saysYou may have heard that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey as the national bird.
- The source says
The story about Benjamin Franklin wanting the National Bird to be a turkey
- The page saysNo. The Franklin Institute says the story is a myth that grew from a letter to his daughter
- The source says
is just a myth. This false story began due to a letter Franklin wrote to his daughter
- The page saysin which Franklin complained that the eagle drawn for the Great Seal looked more like a turkey and praised the turkey as "a much more respectable Bird."
- The source says
criticizing the original eagle design for the Great Seal, saying that it looked more like a turkey ... the turkey is “a much more respectable Bird
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.