The notable features of this bird include orange nodules on its head, a copper-colored panel on its wings, and eyespots that shimmer in blue and gold hues. Together, these characteristics make for a sizeable and unique specimen.
The ocellated turkey is a unique and flashy bird that belongs to the turkey family. In contrast to the common Thanksgiving turkey, this species has a tropical flair that is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. When observing a male ocellated turkey perform its dance, it feels like looking at a Wild Turkey through a vibrant and colorful kaleidoscope. The turkey’s head is baby blue in color and features red and orange nodules. Its metallic body feathers shine in different shades of electric blue and green and become even more vivid on the wings, which are also adorned with bronzy orange and white bands. The bird’s stunning tail feathers resemble the majestic plumes of a peacock, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “pavo real” in Spanish, meaning royal turkey or peacock. During mating season, the male ocellated turkey’s fleshy blue crown covered with nodules, similar to those on the neck behind the snood, swells up and becomes brighter, showcasing a more pronounced yellow-orange color.
Both male and female Ocellated Turkeys have iridescent bronze-green body feathers, but the males are more vibrantly colored. These turkeys are smaller compared to any North American Wild Turkey subspecies, with adult females weighing around 8 pounds before they lay eggs.
The Ocellated Turkey has a limited habitat compared to its northern counterpart. It can only be found in a small region measuring 50,000 square miles, which covers the Yucatán Peninsula range. This area includes Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan states, as well as certain parts of northeastern Chiapas and southern Tabasco.
The feathered creature has a preference for concealing itself within the dense greenery, even though its stunningly vibrant feathers would catch anyone’s attention.
Ocellated turkeys prefer to hang out in small clusters while searching for food under dense foliage in forested and bushy regions. Nonetheless, they may wander into open spaces and nearby farmlands. Their preferred cuisine includes seeds, berries, insects, and leaves.
The lady Ocellated Turkeys are known to lay a moderate-sized batch of 8 to 15 eggs in a perfectly-hidden nest on the soil. These eggs take about 28 days to hatch and the little ones that emerge are precocious enough to relocate from the nest after just one night. Once this is done, they follow their mother around until they attain young adulthood, at which point they start to wander but still regroup at times to settle for the night. Interestingly, the male Ocellated Turkey makes the same “Gobbling” noise as the northern species during the breeding season while the female bird makes the distinct “clucking” sound.
Regrettably, the habitat of the ocellated turkey is under threat due to extensive logging and traditional slash-and-burn farming in Central America. This destruction is happening at an alarming rate and jeopardizes the future existence of this magnificent bird.
Feel free to observe the turkey in this video that is accessible for your viewing pleasure.