Ocellated turkey

Scientific name: Meleagris ocellata

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males (gobblers) are larger with iridescent bronze-green plumage, bare blue and red head skin, and distinctive ocellated (eye-spotted) tail feathers. Females are smaller, duller greenish-bronze with less prominent bare head skin and smaller tail ocelli.

Size and weight

Males 900–1,200 kg; females 600–900 kg. Body length males 80–95 cm; females 65–80 cm.

Habitat

Ocellated turkeys inhabit humid lowland forests, forest edges, and scrubby second-growth woodland in tropical and subtropical zones. They prefer areas with dense understory vegetation and clearings, typically below 1,500 m elevation.

Distribution

Found in the Yucatan Peninsula region of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Populations are concentrated in lowland forests and wetland margins of the Maya Biosphere.

Diet

Ocellated turkeys forage on the ground for seeds, fallen fruits, insects, and small invertebrates, with fruit consumption increasing during fruiting seasons.

Behaviour

Active foragers during daylight hours, moving through understory and ground level in small flocks or pairs. Males are more vocal and conspicuous than females; birds roost in trees at night and move between roosting and feeding areas at dawn and dusk.

Hunting tips

Look for scratch marks in leaf litter, three-toed tracks (larger than northern turkey), and droppings along forest edges and clearings. Approach feeding birds quietly through dense vegetation, using terrain breaks and forest cover. Early morning and late afternoon provide optimal visibility; move slowly and pause frequently to listen for vocalizations and feeding sounds.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Mexico

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.