The ocellated turkey is a type of turkey that lives mainly in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, and also in some parts of Belize and Guatemala. It is related to the North American wild turkey, and was once thought to belong to its own genus called Agriocharis. However, these two species are now considered too similar to be classified separately. The ocellated turkey is quite big, measuring around 70-122 cm (28-48 in) in length and weighing an average of 3 kg (6.6 lb) for females and 5 kg (11 lb) for males.
The ocellated turkey is an exclusive species that exists solely in a region of about 130,000 km2 in the Yucatán Peninsula. This area encompasses some or all parts of Quintana Roo, Campeche, Yucatán, Tabasco, and Chiapas in Mexico, as well as the northern and western regions of Belize and northern Guatemala. The feathers of both male and female turkeys are a blend of green and bronze iridescence. Although females may have more green hues, their breast feathers are similar to males and cannot be used to determine their sex. Unlike other wild turkeys, neither gender has a beard. The tail feathers of both sexes are blue-grey with a blue-bronze spot at the end in the shape of an eye, followed by a bright golden tip. These spots, known as ocelli, resemble patterns seen on peafowl. The large secondary wing coverts of the ocellated turkey have a vivid copper iridescence, while the primary and secondary wing feathers feature similar barring to North American turkeys, albeit with the secondaries having more white, particularly around the edges.
Compared to other types of wild turkeys found in North America, Ocellated turkeys are relatively small. Female adults weigh around 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds before they lay eggs and around 3 kilograms or 6-7 pounds for the rest of the year. On the other hand, male adults weigh about 5-6 kilograms or 11-13 pounds during breeding season. In summary, Ocellated turkeys are known for their smaller size compared to other subspecies of wild turkeys found in North America.
Habits:
Commonly found on the ground, turkeys tend to run as their go-to escape method throughout the day. Although they are capable of flying for brief distances when required, this order of birds generally rely on their swift and powerful legs to evade danger. During the night, they roost in groups up high in trees to avoid predators that hunt at night, such as jaguars.
The ocellated turkey is a master of disguise, often lurking unseen amidst the dense foliage despite its stunning feathers. These birds prefer to hang out in small groups, searching for food under the shelter of forest and scrubland. However, they are not afraid to venture into open spaces and nearby farmland. When it comes to their diet, ocellated turkeys mainly eat seeds, berries, insects, and leaves.
The female Ocellated Turkeys have a habit of laying around 8-15 eggs in a hidden spot on the ground. After laying the eggs, the female bird takes up the task of incubating them for about 28 days. The newly hatched chicks are born with the ability to move around on their own and leave the nest after only one night. They follow their mother until they become young adults and then start to venture out on their own, regrouping for roosting. Similar to their northern counterparts, the male bird makes the classic “Gobbling” noise during breeding season, while the female bird communicates with a “clucking” sound.
The ocellated turkey is facing a major threat due to large-scale timbering operations and traditional slash-and-burn agriculture in Central America. The rapid pace of this destruction is endangering the habitat of this magnificent bird and poses a serious risk to its future survival.
The video provided below allows you to observe this particular turkey.
