Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

Clear Lake, CA
2008-02

The Wild Turkey is a large galliform bird with a black back, a red fleshy neck and head, and pink legs and feet. The name in English turkey is not from the country of Turkey -- the name really was given to guineafowl (Numida meleagris) which shares a similar appearance.

Its name in Japanese shichi-men-cho (シチメンチョウ, 七面鳥) literally means "seven-faced-bird". It comes from the color variation of its flesy neck and face.

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