Ocellated Turkey Trivia

Ocellated turkeys lack the chest tuft and the wattles of the North American species and the bare skin of their heads is blue instead of red.

The ocellated turkey is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be in decline owing mainly to unsustainable levels of exploitation, hunting pressure, plus ongoing habitat loss, degradation and destruction.

Population estimates of the ocellated turkey in parts of its range indicate a decline in numbers over the last 20 years, especially in Guatemala and parts of the southern Yucatán Peninsula where widespread logging and dry season burning eliminate habitat and destroy nests. Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing its susceptibility to hunting.

Population estimates of the ocellated turkey in parts of its range indicate a decline in numbers over the last 20 years, especially in Guatemala and parts of the southern Yucatán Peninsula where widespread logging and dry season burning eliminate habitat and destroy nests. Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing its susceptibility to hunting.

Population estimates of the ocellated turkey in parts of its range indicate a decline in numbers over the last 20 years, especially in Guatemala and parts of the southern Yucatán Peninsula where widespread logging and dry season burning eliminate habitat and destroy nests. Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing its susceptibility to hunting.

Population estimates of the ocellated turkey in parts of its range indicate a decline in numbers over the last 20 years, especially in Guatemala and parts of the southern Yucatán Peninsula where widespread logging and dry season burning eliminate habitat and destroy nests. Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing its susceptibility to hunting.

Most ocellated turkey calls heard during a Tikal National Park study were limited to the gobbling of males and cluck-putt of both sexes. Its drumming sound replaces the pulmonic huff given by turkeys in North America.

Most ocellated turkey calls heard during a Tikal National Park study were limited to the gobbling of males and cluck-putt of both sexes. Its drumming sound replaces the pulmonic huff given by turkeys in North America.

Ocellated turkeys lack the chest tuft and the wattles of the North American species and the bare skin of their heads is blue instead of red.

Ocellated turkeys lack the chest tuft and the wattles of the North American species and the bare skin of their heads is blue instead of red.

The ocellated turkey is omnivorous and feeds on the ground, taking grass, seeds, leaves, fruits, succulent vegetables, insects, and corn where available.

The ocellated turkey is diurnal.

There are a few protected parks for the ocellated turkey, such as the Tikal National Park.

The ocellated turkey is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be in decline owing mainly to unsustainable levels of exploitation, hunting pressure, plus ongoing habitat loss, degradation and destruction.

The ocellated turkey’s scientific name is Meleagris ocellata.

The ocellated turkey was never domesticated as the wild turkey.

The Maya valued ocellated turkeys for ceremonial banquets. Occupants of the palace at Mayapan, occupied for centuries before Europeans arrived, ate enough of them that 70% of the identifiable bones excavated from the site were from ocellated turkeys. On the island of Cozumel, where the Spanish and the Maya first met, both ocellated and domesticated turkeys were eaten.

Few ocellated turkeys have been bred in captivity successfully. Sid Drenth, an exotic bird-breeder located at his Fantasia Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, has never been able to breed ocellated turkeys successfully, despite his experience with other exotic birds. He keeps peafowl, cranes, ibises, curassows and other African birds. Few people ask to buy an ocellated turkey from him. Several zoos in the southern and southwestern United States have ocellated turkeys on display, but few of them have bred the birds successfully, either.

In addition to appearance, the voice of the ocellated turkey readily separates it from the other species of turkey. Its drumming sound replaces the pulmonic huff given by turkeys in North America.

Male ocellated turkeys grow spurs that are half an inch in their first year, an inch and a half as two-year-olds, and two inches or longer as mature birds.

Ocellated turkeys seldom use low forests and bajos. During nesting season, however, the edges of the bajos are dry and are used as nesting sites. In bajos, low-lying wet sites, large trees are sparse and rarely exceed 60 feet in height while the understory is choked with thorny shrubs and vines. These low forests consist of either escoba and botan palm, or thick, nearly impenetrable, expanses of tinto or logwood tree. Bajos may be covered with standing water for as many as 6 months of the year.

Ocellated turkeys are not nearly as vocal as the other species and subspecies of turkey. Most ocellated turkey calls heard during a Tikal National Park study were limited to the gobbling of males and cluck-putt of both sexes. With the many predator species found in the tropical forests of Central America, it may be advantageous for ocellated turkeys to remain silent as much as possible and not advertise their position.

The ocellated turkey is omnivorous and feeds on the ground, taking grass, seeds, leaves, fruits, succulent vegetables, insects, and corn where available.

The ocellated turkey is omnivorous and feeds on the ground, taking grass, seeds, leaves, fruits, succulent vegetables, insects, and corn where available.

The ocellated turkey is omnivorous and feeds on the ground, taking grass, seeds, leaves, fruits, succulent vegetables, insects, and corn where available.

The ocellated turkey is omnivorous and feeds on the ground, taking grass, seeds, leaves, fruits, succulent vegetables, insects, and corn where available.

A group of ocellated turkeys is called a gang, posse, or rafter.

A group of ocellated turkeys is called a gang, posse, or rafter.

A group of ocellated turkeys is called a gang, posse, or rafter.

Uncontrolled market hunting occurring primarily during March, April and May could seriously impact local ocellated turkey populations.

The strutting display of ocellated turkeys is referred to as “dancing” by the people of Central America.

Ocellated turkey chicks are bright yellow underneath and have black down with yellow tips on their backs and wing stubs. Their heads are buffy yellow with a dark median stripe running down both head and neck. They are sturdily built with large flesh-colored legs. Their bills are also flesh-colored with grey tips.

The ocellated turkey is one of only 2 species of turkey in the world. Aside from the ocellated turkey, the other species of turkey is the North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), divided into 5 distinct subspecies: the Eastern wild turkey (M. g. silvestris), the Osceola (Florida) wild turkey (M. g. osceola), Rio Grande wild turkey (M. g. intermedia), the Merriam’s wild turkey (M. g. merriami), and the Gould’s wild turkey (M. g. mexicana).

The range of the ocellated turkey is comprised of many diverse habitat types; from arid brush lands and shrublands, savanna, marshland, grassland, and second growth forest interspersed abandoned farmland called milpas and old growth mature rain forests.

The range of the ocellated turkey is comprised of many diverse habitat types; from arid brush lands and shrublands, savanna, marshland, grassland, and second growth forest interspersed abandoned farmland called milpas and old growth mature rain forests.

The range of the ocellated turkey is comprised of many diverse habitat types; from arid brush lands and shrublands, savanna, marshland, grassland, and second growth forest interspersed abandoned farmland called milpas and old growth mature rain forests.

The range of the ocellated turkey is comprised of many diverse habitat types; from arid brush lands and shrublands, savanna, marshland, grassland, and second growth forest interspersed abandoned farmland called milpas and old growth mature rain forests.

The ocellated turkey only exists in North America in a 50,000 square mile area comprised of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, northern Belize, and the El Petén region of northern Guatemala.

Based upon examination of harvested male ocellated turkeys in Guatemala, there appears to be a good correlation of spur length with age, with spurs falling into three distinct groups. Spur lengths of about 0.5 inches were typical of young gobblers less than one year old. The next group of spurs was about 1.5 inches long, and probably indicates two-year-old gobblers. Spur length of two inches and over probably indicates three-year-old or older gobblers.

Ocellated hens lay 8-15 eggs with an average of 12 eggs, nearly the same size and coloration of those of North American wild turkeys.

Ocellated turkey breeding begins by the end of February or early March, with nesting taking place from April.

Ocellated turkeys have been kept in captivity and fattened for eating. 70% of the identifiable bones excavated from the palace at Mayapan, occupied for centuries before Europeans arrived, were from ocellated turkeys and showed an increased size that suggested they were kept captive and fattened. The Maya valued ocellated turkeys for ceremonial banquets. On the island of Cozumel, where the Spanish and the Maya first met, both ocellated and domesticated turkeys were eaten.

Potential predators of poult and adult ocellated 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.

Potential predators of poult and adult ocellated 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.

Potential predators of poult and adult ocellated 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.

Potential predators of poult and adult ocellated 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.

The ocellated turkey is a social species.

Like North American turkeys, leg lengths of the ocellated turkey differ between sexes. Average leg length for females is less than 5 inches as compared to over 6 inches for males, making male ocellated turkeys stand an inch or so taller than females.

Like their relatives, the North American wild turkeys, ocellated turkeys are excellent eating and are heavily hunted through their small range for food, trade, and occasionally sport, even within reserves.

Like their relatives, the North American wild turkeys, ocellated turkeys are excellent eating and are heavily hunted through their small range for food, trade, and occasionally sport, even within reserves.

Like their relatives, the North American wild turkeys, ocellated turkeys are excellent eating and are heavily hunted through their small range for food, trade, and occasionally sport, even within reserves.

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.

Much more information is needed regarding the ecology of the ocellated turkey. Information on habitat needs, population dynamics, and management techniques is required to properly conserve this valuable resource.

The gobble of the male ocellated turkey is preceded by a series of 3-7 low frequency hollow drumming sounds, not unlike the drumming produced by ruffed grouse, followed by a high-pitched gobbling-like noise. It appears to originate a long way down and the turkey makes a series of jerking motions while attempting to bring it out.

Ocellated turkey numbers were perceived to have crashed in a large forest area in Belize where they were previously common. As hunting pressure in the area did not seem sufficient to explain their loss, there was speculation that one or another chicken-born diseases may have been introduced into the population by domestic poultry. Wild ocellated turkeys will occasionally come in and feed with flocks of barnyard chickens on the more remote farms in Belize if they are unmolested.

Both sexes of ocellated turkeys have a blue-colored head and neck with distinctive caruncle-like growths, called nodules. The nodules can range from orange to red, to coral in color.

Large scale timbering operations followed by slash-and-burn agriculture are one of the ocellated turkey’s primary threats.
Active farmlands occur in the range of the ocellated turkey and are the product of what ecologists refer to as “slash and burn agriculture,” where forestlands are cut, burned to remove any residual vegetation, then planted to corn, beans, and squash. These sites are farmed until the thin soils are depleted of nutrients or eroded away during rainy seasons. Burned areas not farmed are converted to pasture for cattle grazing, but these pasture grasses are soon replaced by thick patches of shrubs and vines unpalatable to cattle.

Large scale timbering operations followed by slash-and-burn agriculture are one of the ocellated turkey’s primary threats.
Active farmlands occur in the range of the ocellated turkey and are the product of what ecologists refer to as “slash and burn agriculture,” where forestlands are cut, burned to remove any residual vegetation, then planted to corn, beans, and squash. These sites are farmed until the thin soils are depleted of nutrients or eroded away during rainy seasons. Burned areas not farmed are converted to pasture for cattle grazing, but these pasture grasses are soon replaced by thick patches of shrubs and vines unpalatable to cattle.

Large scale timbering operations followed by slash-and-burn agriculture are one of the ocellated turkey’s primary threats.
Active farmlands occur in the range of the ocellated turkey and are the product of what ecologists refer to as “slash and burn agriculture,” where forestlands are cut, burned to remove any residual vegetation, then planted to corn, beans, and squash. These sites are farmed until the thin soils are depleted of nutrients or eroded away during rainy seasons. Burned areas not farmed are converted to pasture for cattle grazing, but these pasture grasses are soon replaced by thick patches of shrubs and vines unpalatable to cattle.

Before an ocellated gobbler goes into a strut, the tail feathers are held horizontal to the ground and moved from side to side, similar to a dog wagging i’s tail. After the tail wagging, the tail fan is spread, but the head and neck are held back toward the tail fan and pressed down onto the back, rather than tucked back against the breast as in North American wild turkeys. While in strut, the wings are lowered and drag the ground as seen in other turkeys, but the ocellated gobbler also moves one wing rapidly back and forth in a vibrating motion. This part of the strut is done when hens are nearby and the gobbler continues the strut and wing vibration as he attempts to circle the hen(s), making smaller and smaller circles until the hen leaves, or she squats allowing the gobbler to tread on her back and breed. Gobbling often occurs in mid-strut, especially if several hens are in view. During the gobble, the head and neck are elevated straight up over the back rather than projected forward. Gobbling can occur without the bird coming out of strut.

Before an ocellated gobbler goes into a strut, the tail feathers are held horizontal to the ground and moved from side to side, similar to a dog wagging its tail. After the tail wagging, the tail fan is spread, but the head and neck are held back toward the tail fan and pressed down onto the back, rather than tucked back against the breast as in North American wild turkeys. While in strut, the wings are lowered and drag the ground as seen in other turkeys, but the ocellated gobbler also moves one wing rapidly back and forth in a vibrating motion. This part of the strut is done when hens are nearby and the gobbler continues the strut and wing vibration as he attempts to circle the hen(s), making smaller and smaller circles until the hen leaves, or she squats allowing the gobbler to tread on her back and breed. Gobbling often occurs in mid-strut, especially if several hens are in view. During the gobble, the head and neck are elevated straight up over the back rather than projected forward. Gobbling can occur without the bird coming out of strut.

Before an ocellated gobbler goes into a strut, the tail feathers are held horizontal to the ground and moved from side to side, similar to a dog wagging its tail. After the tail wagging, the tail fan is spread, but the head and neck are held back toward the tail fan and pressed down onto the back, rather than tucked back against the breast as in North American wild turkeys. While in strut, the wings are lowered and drag the ground as seen in other turkeys, but the ocellated gobbler also moves one wing rapidly back and forth in a vibrating motion. This part of the strut is done when hens are nearby and the gobbler continues the strut and wing vibration as he attempts to circle the hen(s), making smaller and smaller circles until the hen leaves, or she squats allowing the gobbler to tread on her back and breed. Gobbling often occurs in mid-strut, especially if several hens are in view. During the gobble, the head and neck are elevated straight up over the back rather than projected forward. Gobbling can occur without the bird coming out of strut.

Before an ocellated gobbler goes into a strut, the tail feathers are held horizontal to the ground and moved from side to side, similar to a dog wagging its tail. After the tail wagging, the tail fan is spread, but the head and neck are held back toward the tail fan and pressed down onto the back, rather than tucked back against the breast as in North American wild turkeys. While in strut, the wings are lowered and drag the ground as seen in other turkeys, but the ocellated gobbler also moves one wing rapidly back and forth in a vibrating motion. This part of the strut is done when hens are nearby and the gobbler continues the strut and wing vibration as he attempts to circle the hen(s), making smaller and smaller circles until the hen leaves, or she squats allowing the gobbler to tread on her back and breed. Gobbling often occurs in mid-strut, especially if several hens are in view. During the gobble, the head and neck are elevated straight up over the back rather than projected forward. Gobbling can occur without the bird coming out of strut.

The ocellated turkey is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be in decline owing mainly to unsustainable levels of exploitation, hunting pressure, plus ongoing habitat loss, degradation and destruction.

The ocellated turkey is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be in decline owing mainly to unsustainable levels of exploitation, hunting pressure, plus ongoing habitat loss, degradation and destruction.

The ocellated turkey is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because it has a moderately small population which is suspected to be in decline owing mainly to unsustainable levels of exploitation, hunting pressure, plus ongoing habitat loss, degradation and destruction.

The Maya valued ocellated turkeys for ceremonial banquets. Occupants of the palace at Mayapan, occupied for centuries before Europeans arrived, ate enough of them that 70% of the identifiable bones excavated from the site were from ocellated turkeys. On the island of Cozumel, where the Spanish and the Maya first met, both ocellated and domesticated turkeys were eaten.

The ocellated turkey’s mating system is polygyny, in which one male has an exclusive relationship with two or more females. This is associated with one-male, multi-female group compositions.

The ocellated turkey has several different names that vary by Central American locale including “pavo” and “pavo ocelado”. It’s Mayan Indian name is “ucutz il chican”.

On rare occasions, female ocellated turkeys have been spotted with spurs. Although some previous reports have stated that female ocellated turkeys commonly have spurs, during 4 years of field work and trapping activities in Tikal National Park, only 1 female was seen with spurs, which were very small and best described as rudimentary buttons.

The ocellated turkey’s tail feather spots are similar to those seen on peacock feathers which led some scientists to once believe it was more related to peafowl than turkeys.

The tail feathers in both sexes are bluish-gray in color with a well defined, eye-shaped, blue-bronze colored spot near the end followed by bright gold tip.

The tail feathers in both sexes are bluish-gray in color with a well defined, eye-shaped, blue-bronze colored spot near the end followed by bright gold tip.

The gobble of the male ocellated turkey is preceded by a series of 3-7 low frequency hollow drumming sounds, not unlike the drumming produced by ruffed grouse, followed by a high-pitched gobbling-like noise. It appears to originate a long way down and the turkey makes a series of jerking motions while attempting to bring it out.

Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing the ocellated turkey’s susceptibility to hunting. There are a few protected parks for the ocellated turkey, such as the Tikal National Park.

Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing the ocellated turkey’s susceptibility to hunting. There are a few protected parks for the ocellated turkey, such as the Tikal National Park.

Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing the ocellated turkey’s susceptibility to hunting. There are a few protected parks for the ocellated turkey, such as the Tikal National Park.

Large-scale clear-cutting and agricultural conversion is fragmenting habitat, increasing the ocellated turkey’s susceptibility to hunting. There are a few protected parks for the ocellated turkey, such as the Tikal National Park.

Ocellated turkey spurs are longer and more attenuated than those of North American gobblers.

Ocellated hens lay 8-15 eggs with an average of 12 eggs. Based on information obtained during the radiotelemetry study in the Tikal National Park, approximately 60% of the hens were able to hatch a clutch and produced an average of 6 poults per hen. At least half of all nests were destroyed by predators.

The ocellated turkey only exists in North America in a 50,000 square mile area comprised of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, northern Belize, and the El Petén region of northern Guatemala. Unlike the ocellated turkey, the 5 subspecies of the North American turkey can be found from northern Mexico throughout all the United States, except Alaska, and into Ontario, Canada.

The head of the male ocellated turkey has a fleshy blue crown or knob behind the snood which is adorned with yellow-orange to red-coral nodules similar to those on the neck. During breeding season, this crown enlarges and the coloration of the nodules becomes more pronounced.

Ocellated turkeys have a distinct eye-ring of bright red colored skin, especially visible on adult males during the breeding season.

Approximately 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.

The name of the ocellated turkey refers to the blue and bronze ocelli on its tail, the eye-shaped markings that are similar to the ones peacocks display.

The ocellated turkey is the smallest species of turkey and is significantly smaller than any of the five subspecies of North American wild turkeys.

Very little research has been done on the ocellated turkey and less is known about the ecology of this turkey than any of the 5 subspecies of North American wild turkeys, including the Gould’s wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana).

The ocellated turkey has no recognized subspecies.

It may be possible to age male ocellated turkeys based on the width of the rich copper band on their wings as adults of both sexes appear to have wider bands, but more research is needed to confirm this trait. This method probably isn’t totally reliable for females after the first year.

Like North American turkeys, leg lengths of the ocellated turkey differ between sexes. Average leg length for females is less than 5 inches as compared to over 6 inches for males, making male ocellated turkeys stand an inch or so taller than females.

The ocellated turkey only exists in North America in a 50,000 square mile area comprised of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, northern Belize, and the El Petén region of northern Guatemala.

The ocellated turkey only exists in North America in a 50,000 square mile area comprised of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, northern Belize, and the El Petén region of northern Guatemala.

The ocellated turkey only exists in North America in a 50,000 square mile area comprised of the Yucatán Peninsula of Guatemala, northern Belize, and the El Petén region of northern Guatemala.

Both sexes of ocellated turkeys have a blue-colored head and neck with distinctive caruncle-like growths, called nodules. The nodules can range from orange to red, to coral in color. Nodules are more pronounced on males.