Life History
Wild turkeys and Guinea Fowl were once taxonomically confused, and they now share the name Meleagris within their taxonomic names, where turkeys have it as their genus, guinea fowl have it as their species name.
Wild turkeys and Guinea fowl are closed related species both of which are classified within the taxonomic group Galliformes. Galliformes are gregarious, terrestrial birds. They have been adapted for ground feeding and nesting, and mate polygamously. This group is characterized by :
Wild turkeys and Guinea fowl are closed related species both of which are classified within the taxonomic group Galliformes. Galliformes are gregarious, terrestrial birds. They have been adapted for ground feeding and nesting, and mate polygamously. This group is characterized by :
- strong feet and legs adapted for scratching
- short, rounded wings adapted for rapid but minimal flight
- a well developed tail adapted for function as a rudder
- short, stout beak adapted for pecking
- and sexual dimorphism, meaning there are distinct morphometric differences between the male and female within a species.
Geographical Distribution
Wild Turkey:
The Wild Turkey is native to Canada, Mexico and the United states. It has recently been introduced to Austrailia and New Zealand
The wild turkeys range has decreased significantly over the course of its history due to human related habitat disturbances and hunting.
The wild turkeys range has decreased significantly over the course of its history due to human related habitat disturbances and hunting.
Photo credit: BirdLife International 2012. Meleagris gallopavo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
Guinea Fowl
The Helmeted Guinea fowl also as a large range similar to that of Turkeys but are found in completely different locations.
Guinea fowl are natively found in much of Africa, specifically Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Blssau, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote d'lvoire, Burkina Faso,Ghana, Togo,, Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia,Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Photo Credit: BirdLife International 2012. Numida meleagris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
Guinea fowl are natively found in much of Africa, specifically Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Blssau, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote d'lvoire, Burkina Faso,Ghana, Togo,, Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia,Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Photo Credit: BirdLife International 2012. Numida meleagris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>.