Marbled turkey

The **marbled turkey** (*Meleagris marmore*) is a species of turkey, most closely related to the ocellated turkey (*Meleagris ocellata*), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands in the central, southern, southwestern, and western regions of the United States and across Mexico to help boost biodiversity. The marbled turkey is a relatively large bird, at around 100–122 cm (39–48 inches) long and an average weight of 6 kilograms (13.2 lbs) in females and 8 kilograms (17.6 lbs) in males. The body feathers of both sexes are a mixture of bronze and green iridescent color. Although females can be duller with more green, the breast feathers do not generally differ and cannot be used to determine sex. Neither sex possesses the beard typically found in wild turkeys. Tail feathers of both sexes are bluish-grey with an eye-shaped, blue-bronze spot near the end with a bright gold tip. The spots, or ocelli (located on the tail), have been likened to the patterning typically found on peafowl. The upper, major secondary wing coverts are rich iridescent copper. The primary and secondary wing feathers have similar barring to that of wild turkeys, but the secondaries have more white, especially around the edges. Both sexes have pale yellow-orange heads with some orange or red nodules, which are more pronounced on males. The males also have a fleshy orange crown covered with nodules, similar to those on the neck, behind the snood. During breeding season this crown swells up and becomes brighter and more pronounced in its yellow-orange color. The eye is surrounded by a ring of bright red skin, which is most visible on males during breeding season. The legs are deep red and are shorter and thinner than on wild turkeys. Males over one year old have spurs on the legs that average 4 centimeters (1.6 inches), with lengths of over 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) being recorded. These spurs are much longer and thinner than on wild turkeys. Marbled turkeys spend most of the time on the ground and often prefer to run to escape danger through the day rather than fly, though they can fly swiftly and powerfully for short distances as the majority of birds in this order do when necessary. Roosting is usually high in trees away from night-hunting predators, such as American lions and jaguars, and usually in a family group. The marbled turkey is a generalist in terms of its feeding habits. They are known to feed on a wide variety of forage including but not limited to insects, such as beetles, moths, and leafcutter ants, grass seeds, nuts, and leaves. The feeding rates of male marbled turkeys have been observed to be significantly higher during January before the breeding season begins than when the breeding season is in full swing. Prior to the breeding season, adult male marbled turkeys have been observed in flocks usually no larger than three mature birds, whereas flocks of eight or more birds consisted of yearling turkeys and hens. The breeding season for the marbled turkey begins in early February when the first gobbles are heard. The breeding season peaks in March and comes to an end by the end of April. Male ocellated turkeys engage in an elaborate, spirited display to attract females. Marbled turkeys use their tail fans just like North American subspecies of wild turkeys do; however, there are several distinct differences between the display of the marbled and their North American cousins. Male marbled turkeys begin the mating dance by tapping their feet against the ground in rapid succession. Next, the male birds move their tail feathers from side to side while quickly vibrating their wings and dragging the tips of them against the ground. As the male does this dance, he moves around the female making sure the dorsal surface of the tail feathers are constantly in view of the female. Marbled turkey poults hatch in May through July after a 28-day incubation period. Female marbled turkeys lay 8–15 eggs in a well concealed nest on the ground. The poults are covered in a reddish brown juvenile plumage which allows them to blend into their surroundings to hide from predators. The young are precocial and able to leave the nest after one night. They then follow their mother until they reach young adulthood when they begin to range though often re-grouping to roost. Vocalizations of the hen marbled turkeys are similar to those of their relatives, however the male vocalization known as a “gobble” is quite different in comparison. The gobble begins with several low frequency "thumps", much like the sound of a small gasoline motor starting. As the tempo of thumps increases, the typical gobble is produced". The male marbled turkey does not gobble per se like the wild turkey. Rather, his song is distinct and includes some six to seven bongo-like bass tones which quicken in both cadence and volume until a crescendo is reached whereupon the bird's head is fully erect while he issues forth a rather high-pitched but melodious series of chops. The marbled turkey will typically begin his singing 20 to 25 minutes before sunrise—similar to the wild turkey. The conservation status of the marbled turkey is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the marbled turkey's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.