Approximately 70% of ocellated turkey hens and 13% of poults survive the nesting and brood-rearing period.
A radiotelemetry study in Tikal National Park provided the only information on survival of ocellated turkeys in the wild. During the nesting and brood-rearing period, approximately 30% of the hens die, primarily from predation. Survival for poults is even lower, as only 13% of poults hatched in April were alive by September.
Predator populations in these tropical forest habitats are diverse and apparently abundant. Potential predators of poult and adult turkeys include gray fox, ocelot, margay, raccoon, coati, jaguarundi, tira, cougar, jaguar, and numerous birds of prey and snakes capable of killing turkeys, especially poults.
• Image | © LenorEatWood, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-NC 4.0)
• Sources | (BirdLife International, 2016; Taylor, Quigley, & Gonzalez, 2002)
