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When you hear the word "turkey" do you picture one of those big Thanksgiving birds? Many people don't realize that the typical turkeys found in the wild,are different from the ones that end up on your Thanksgiving plate. There are five separate species of turkeys that are commonly found and hunted throughout the continental US (and Hawaii). As you will learn, turkeys have a great ability to live in a wide variety of ecosystems. Learn more about the five types of turkeys you will find in the US.

The Eastern Wild Turkey: Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris

The Eastern Wild Turkey dates back to before the Puritans arrived. It is a common bird and has the largest range of any turkey species in the continental United States spanning from South Canada to North Mexico. The Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris species usually have a tail feather that is tipped and brown, an identifying mark for this bird. Males can reach up to 20 pounds, where females stay closer to 10 pounds.

The Osceola Wild Turkey: Meleagris Gallopavo Osceola

The Osceola Wild Turkey is another common bird, but can only be found in Southern Florida. In terms of population, this turkey is also the smallest species of its kind in the United States with only 100,000 birds in population. The dark green feathers are usually an indicator of this turkey. Hunting for the Meleagris Gallopavo Osceola turkey requires a special permit, so keep that in mind if you wish to incorporate it into your hunt.

The Rio Grande Wild Turkey: Meleagris Gallopavo Intermedia

One of the more recent species of turkeys in the US, The Meleagris Gallopavo Intermedia (Rio Grande wild turkey) is located in the Southern and Central desert regions of the United States, and also the southern areas of the Midwest. This bird has made a home for itself in California as well as some parts of Hawaii. Boosting the longest legs of turkey species, this lightning fast bird has no problem traversing the prairies. You can also find this turkey in a variety of climates including in pine forests, among mesquite trees, sitting under scrub oak trees, near streams and wading along the bottoms of rivers.

Merriam’s Wild Turkey: Meleagris Gallopavo Merriami

The Meleagris Gallopavo Merriami turkey has a mix of black and white feathers and is native to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. This species can also be found slightly eastward from that direction into the cooler areas of the midwest, living in areas where ponderosa pine trees are found. To avoid the heavy snow in the winter months, these turkeys migrate down from the mountains. Later, in springtime, the turkeys go back in search of food. Fun face: the Meleagris Gallopavo Merriami turkey was named after C. Hart Merriam, who was the first chief of the Division of Economic Ornithology.

Gould’s Wild Turkey: Meleagris Gallopavo Mexicana

Found in New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico, The Meleagris Gallopavo Mexicana is the largest turkey of the five in this article. Males can reach over 30 pounds, and females are usually around 12 pounds. These birds have copper colored feathers with a green tint. Preferring to live along dry creek beds, this turkey thrives off of seeds, berries, and insects, among whatever else it can scavenge.