The world of birds is a weird place as it shows similarities across species that don’t share any sort of DNA and are far from being called biological relatives.
On that note, birds that look like Turkeys is a very interesting discussion that’ll not only help you in clearing out confusions between life-size birds, but also ensure spot-on identification in the shared habitat zones.
Most of the species belong to the same territories as Turkeys, so there’s room for perplexity and no one will blame you for that.
Because the birds in question here show traits and physical aspects that exist only in Turkey prominently, thus learning to tie these with particular birds is what this article is trying to attain today.
Contents
What are Turkeys?
Turkeys are mostly game birds in all of their localities and they prefer residing on the uplands – meaning, they’re not waterfowls. So that’s the primary difference between this bird and all the birds that look like turkeys.
These birds look majestic due to their size, wing color and strutting. On average, a turkey can weigh around 5 to 11 kg (11 to 24 lb), so there’s no comparison with chickens that we consume on a regular basis.
Turkeys are usually based upon darker, brownish-black feathers and colorful highlights on the sides and front. Such colorization ranges between black and white stripes, shades of red, blue and purple. Although it can vary across different species.
Secondary identification is around the head. It’s a naked one, devoid of feather coverage. You’ll find red skin stripes that are called Caruncles. Up front, a skin patch hangs down the neck namely Wattle. This nakedness consumes the entire neck area.
There are mainly two species of turkeys in the world with their distinctive subspecies. One is the Wild Turkey and the other is the Domestic Turkey. Both of them go by other names across localities.
Wild Turkey
Source: @wyatt.the.chicken
- Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo
- Size: 76 to 125 cm ((30 to 49 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: February to April
Wild Turkey is the original species from which evolution landed us the Domestic species and many of its subsequent breeds. The former species still roams freely in nature all over North America, inside coniferous hard-wood forests. Due to being sizable and of black feather, it holds some symbolic significance to Native American communities.
Looking at its weight, you might think it can’t fly like the Domestic Turkey, but you’d be very wrong to assume that! Wild Turkeys are fast fliers and can easily carry their weight up to a quarter mile at one flight. Like most other bird species, they too are vulnerable to predation in the wild. But they show a significant amount of friendship with surrounding animals while foraging, up to the level of calling it playful.
Domestic Turkey
Source: @suzycruises
- Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo domesticus
- Size: 100 to 124.9 cm (39 to 49 in)
- Locality: All across the world
- Status: Domesticated
- Breeding Season: Human controlled
Many assume that the Turkey species other than Wild Turkey is Turkey Vulture, but the latter one isn’t a Turkey at all! Rather, Domestic Turkey is the one that’s been domesticized and systematically produced into many different breeds. Studies suggest that the deviation of this species from Wild Turkeys began in the 16th century from Mexican breeding practices.
Domestic Turkey is more of a climber than a flier. Though they tend to take short flights when young, with age that reduces down to perching and running. This species is currently being bred commercially for food and this industry-grade production raises some welfare concerns as well. It’s a custom going on in all parts of the world and the species is rarely found in the wilderness.
This species sounds the same as Wild Turkeys.
Wild Turkey Similar Species Comparison
The 10 bird species I’m about to discuss here have nothing to do with Turkeys other than their physical resemblances. So that would be the focal point of my discussion, on how to identify each species as a separate entity from Turkeys based on visible evidence.
Greater Prairie Chicken
Source: @radelhinckleyphotography
- Scientific Name: Tympanuchus cupido
- Size: 16.9 in (43 cm)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Near Threatened
- Breeding Season: Early spring to June
Greater Prairie Chickens look similar to Turkeys in many ways and the major reason behind that is their shared family of Phasianidae. It’s basically a grouse – first of the six birds in the list which look uncannily similar to a Turkey. One sad aspect about the species is they’re currently very rare to find in their prairie habitats due to rapid developments filling up such places in the name of modernization.
Locating the Difference
There are four things to look for while differentiating between this species and Turkeys. Firstly, the tail on them is short and oval, nothing like the majestic display Turkeys tend to put. Secondly, colorization is a lot different on them, draped in orange and comb-like textured.
Thirdly, the head and neck aren’t naked since feathers manage to cover up the portion quite nicely. Finally, the short head is accompanied by an orange neck patch that can be recognized from quite a distance. So don’t let the size, shape and attitude let you get fooled!
Helmeted Guineafowl
Source: @birdsofethiopia_fikretatasalan
- Scientific Name: Numida meleagris
- Size: 53 to 58 cm (21 to 23 in)
- Locality: Africa
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to September
Despite being named Guineafowl, it’s actually a native species of the African continent. This is the only place it roams around freely in nature while the rest of the localities like West Indies, parts of South America, North America and Oceania holds it as a domesticated bird. It has nine recognized subspecies that vary in physicality and habitat zones but share major similarities with one another.
Locating the Difference
The major variation between Helmeted Guineafowl and Turkeys is their size. The Helmeted Guineafowl is much smaller than the other species in question and weighs significantly less. Although the naked head & neck can cause some confusion, looking at the white dots on black feathers should drive that away conveniently.
Also, their tail is pointy facing the earth and the neck area is colored in blue. Wings are short, much like their neck and these two features are clear differences from a Turkey. A unique connection between this species and Turkeys is in their scientific name – meleagris is the species title for Helmeted Guineafowl while it’s the genus name for both the Turkeys.
Malayan Crested Fireback
Source: @annapetrareichlingnovak
- Scientific Name: Lophura rufa
- Size: 70 cm (27.5 in)
- Locality: Thai-Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
- Status: Vulnerable
- Breeding Season: April to July
Crested Firebacks are some of the smaller birds that look like Turkeys. It’s also referred to as “Delacour’s Crested Fireback” in the Sumatran and Thai-Malay regions, mostly inside forests of lowlands. Bornean Crested Fireback is another species from the family promoting similar aspects but habitating in a completely different zone. These birds are currently in a vulnerable state because of overhunting and loss of habitat.
Locating the Difference
This crested bird flaunts crowns like a pea-cock, male in black and female in dark brown shade. Their large, wide tails might have you mix them up with Turkeys, but know that these are more toward brushy-textured sides instead of spreaded out high up the back.
Plumages also may seem similar due to the blue tint over the black but back feathers stand out as brown. Blue face has it more connected to Helmeted Guineafowl instead of Turkeys, thus the discrepancy is much apparent in hindsight. Overall, identifying one from the other shouldn’t pose any challenge if you have a good pair of eyes.
Black Grouse
Source: @roger._backman
- Scientific Name: Lyrurus tetrix
- Size: 60 cm (24 in)
- Locality: Europe and Russia
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Early to mid-May
Black Grouse goes by a lot of names among bird enthusiasts and it’s quite close in size with Turkeys of the world. Even the colorization and tail shape can be deceptive to the watchers under certain lights. Six subspecies have been recognized so far, spreaded across parts of Europe, Mongolia and Siberian regions of Russia. Some even extend their reach farther to China and Korea.
Locating the Difference
Out of the two sexes, females are the slightly smaller ones in size and weight. What aligns their visuals with Turkeys are the plumage colors and display. The tones are bluish black and white accents at the wing edges.
Their tails are divided into two parts, shaped like a wide ‘V’. While displaying, they don’t climb up as high as Turkeys but sizable enough to confuse amateur observers. The head starkly contrasts the other species since it’s feathered, differently shaped and holds a red patch.
Dusky Grouse
Source: @geebob
- Scientific Name: Dendragapus obscurus
- Size: 44 to 57 cm (17.3 to 22.4 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late March to early April
If you’re around the Rocky Mountain regions in North America, you might find yourself thinking you’ve found a Turkey in the woods. But it could very well be a Dusky Grouse with its full display of tail and feather. These birds are usually permanent residents in this region and found foraging through the grass for fir or pine needles. They’re usually loud during mating season within their territory.
Locating the Difference
In many ways Rusty Grouse looks like Turkeys but the variances are more stern. Brown-ish black feathers and tall tails conform them with the outlook of a Turkey and even the head’s featherless look can aid in solidifying the idea.
But size-wise it’s much smaller and weighs significantly less. The neck isn’t as long with orange patches up the head. There’s a throat air sack colored in purple and its periphery is a white, oval feather group. This is the mark that’ll certainly tell you that it’s not a Turkey in any way.
Greater Sage Grouse
Source: @jacksonholeecotours
- Scientific Name: Centrocercus urophasianus
- Size: 48 to 76 cm (19 to 30 in)
- Locality: USA and Canada
- Status: Vulnerable
- Breeding Season: March to early June
From the grouse family, Greater Sage Grouse is the largest one, going by the name sagehen as well. It’s even the mascot for a few college athletic program groups. Despite having two subspecies, this bird is currently at a vulnerable state mostly because of habitat loss. Back in the day, it used to exist in 16 US states but currently this number has dropped significantly over the years.
Locating the Difference
In many ways, you’ll be able to tell from photographs that it’s quite a straightforward task to identify Greater Sage Grouse from regular Turkeys. But if you witness it in nature, the feather tone, distribution of wings and tail might have you lost for a few moments without prior knowledge.
Feathers and wings on this are brown toned. The back hosts white textured patterns that sharply contrasts with the completely black head. There’s a white feathery necklace taking prominence on the bird, much like the sharp tail display patterned with white.
Ruffed Grouse
Source: @dc_natures_best
- Scientific Name: Bonasa umbellus
- Size: 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late April
Ruffed Grouse is a mountainous bird living inside forests of those areas in North America. Due to the large number in certain places, Pennsylvania celebrates it as the state game bird of this locality. It has 13 recognized subspecies shared between Canada and USA. Unlike other grouses, Ruffed Grouse presents a silent courtship display focusing on their tail feathers and wings.
Locating the Difference
The only reason you might get this bird mixed up with a Turkey is its display. Because in terms of size, it’s quite smaller than the other species and even the colorization is different. Brown and white feathers make room for the white-striped black tails you can locate at full stretch.
Female birds aren’t as majestic as the male birds due to the lack of feathers on the head sides and tail. While the head resembles Turkeys in many regards, the neck is still much shorter. If the tail display confuses you, have a much wider and higher one.
Sooty Grouse
Source: @teachertombirds
- Scientific Name: Dendragapus fuliginosus
- Size: 50 cm (19.7 in)
- Locality: North America’s Pacific Coast Ranges
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late March to early April
The Pacific Coast Ranges of North America and is a close relative of Dusky Grouse due to genealogical similarities. In certain parts of California, these birds are currently experiencing loss of number as the habitats are rapidly altering. It has four subspecies, the latest one recognized in 1923. Their habitat zones are closely tied with conifers and forest edges.
Locating the Difference
Males are mostly darker colored than the females for the species, matching with Turkeys at this very basic level. Even their tail displays are somewhat similar since the tail edges are accented with gray, in the same way Turkeys show light brown borders.
But close inspection will tell you that the tail is actually a little toward square shape as opposed to the crescent of Turkeys. Also, a white-edged yellow throat sack gives it away to the observers. They also carry a yellow wattle right next to the eye but that’s only during mating seasons.
Common Pheasant
Source: @vandekerkhovedirk1
- Scientific Name: Phasianus colchicus
- Size: 60 to 89 cm (23.5 to 35 in)
- Locality: Asia and parts of Europe
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April and May
Moving on from the grouses, we now head on with two of the pheasants in this list that look like Turkeys, one of which is this Common Grouse. It’s also referred to as the Ring-necked pheasant due to the large, red ring wrapped around the neck portion. Studies suggest that the species evolved from its origin 20 million years back and the abundance landed the ‘game bird’ title in many places.
Locating the Difference
Two things have made this bird deceive viewers with Turkeys – one is the diverse feather color of this species that varies from one bird to the other. The second one is the long, pointy tail which resembles Turkey tails when it’s not being put on display.
Otherwise, Common Pheasant is very vibrant, and has the neck and head covered with feathers. The wings are textured with black patterns. Its abundance might have you trace it around your local areas since it’s been introduced in many parts of the world.
Elliot’s Pheasant
Source: @vj_pheasantry
- Scientific Name: Syrmaticus ellioti
- Size: 50 to 80 cm (20 to 31 in)
- Locality: South-eastern China
- Status: Near Threatened
- Breeding Season: March to May
Paying tribute to the American ornithologist Daniel Giraud Elliot, this bird was named as Elliot’s Pheasant although it was first described by Robert Swinhoe. It’s found mostly in south-eastern regions of China, so you can see there’s no overlap in habitat zones with Turkeys to get it mixed up. Still, it’s a bird that looks like Turkeys, thus it has found its way to my top 10 list.
Locating the Difference
It’s a highly vibrant bird with the head sharing uncanny similarity with Turkeys. However, the neck isn’t long enough to classify them under the same category. The chest is a startling red and it’s complemented with large, white patches on the belly and neck.
The eyes are surrounded by red sunglasses and the neck is patterned with a black stripe. Its long tail follows the white and red stripe pattern which is echoed on the wings with a touch of black. This near-threatened species displays sexual dimorphism in terms of size between the two sexes.
FAQ
Holding on to the notion of birds that look like Turkeys, this FAQ section aspires to answer some of the most commonly asked questions subsequent to the original topic in hand.
Q: What is the connection between the Turkey country and the turkey bird?
Ans: In actuality, there’s no connection between the country and the bird Turkey except for the shared name. The proof is that this bird was named by Eurasian settlers after arriving in the USA and during that time, the country Turkey was regarded as the Ottoman Empire.
Q: Are there turkeys (the birds) in Turkey (the country)?
Ans: Although Turkeys are native to North America, there is an existence of the species in the country of Turkey as well. It’s brought into the country due to its demand as a food cuisine and thus some of the farms breed these on a regular basis.
Q: Can turkeys and peacocks breed?
Ans: Even though these two birds share qualities of feather display and it’s seen as their prominent features, they can’t breed. Biologically, these two types of birds hold completely different types of DNAs, so even if something happens between them, no fertilization will occur to create a hybrid.
Thoughts
With this, I’m not closing the discussion on birds that look like Turkeys with 10 standout examples that bewilder bird watchers from every perspective.
If I wanted to, I could add a few more species into the list but their resemblance with Turkeys wouldn’t be so closely knotted as the ones I’ve mentioned here.
Most of these birds are either pheasants or grouses and Turkeys belong to the same group of chickens that rendered this bridge of physical resemblances possible.
But having a keen pair of eyes and sufficient knowledge on the similar birds, this won’t stand in your way to recognize Turkeys in the wilderness, free from intellectual corruption.
I hope this article should help you in the coming days and aid you in your growth as a bird observer.
Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia
