I am so excited to tell
you all about the following bird and her family! The first time I saw a bird like this, I thought, “That’s
the wrong color.”
I am going to share with
you all about a special type of turkey (yes a turkey!) that has been becoming
more and more popular with our visitors.
They are very beautiful birds that also have a cute-ugly factor to
them. In this article I will
discuss the natural history and some personal facts about this species.
Fred (pictured above) is a fine example of a male Royal Palm Turkey (photo: Gay Schroer)
The bird’s name is
Wilma and she is a Royal Palm Turkey.
These turkeys originate from the wild turkey (Melegris gallopavo) and other turkeys I will mention later on. These are a very special breed of
turkey because of their plumage (feather color). They are mostly white with black edging on the body, wing,
and tail feathers. These turkeys
are not normally raised for food, but for exhibition (for show, either on
personal farm property or for professional showing).
Wilma was donated to the
World Bird Sanctuary by Cathy E., one of our awesome volunteers! Wilma is three years old this year and
has become a mother! She and her
mate, Fred, are parents of seven adorable little chicks this year! Below you can see the entire family!
Fred, Wilma & chicks (photo: Lisbeth Hodges)
These unique turkeys are
native to North America. The first
Royal Palms to be discovered were in the 1920s at the farm of Enoch Carson of
Lake Worth, Florida. They were in
a mixed flock with Black, Bronze, Wild, and Narragansett turkeys. This type of coloration only appears in
a small percentage from breeding different types
of turkeys together.
The females weigh from
10-12 pounds (4536-5443 grams) while males range from 16-22 pounds (7257-9979
grams). Their diet consists of
mainly grain, but they will also eat insects
and vegetation when they encounter it in the wild.
Royal Palms are great
foragers and very active (especially during breeding season). The females will lay anywhere from five
to nine eggs per clutch (group of eggs).
The eggs are large, cream to light brown, with spots present. The female will protect the eggs and
chicks more often than the male.
Below you can see Wilma sitting down with all the two week old chicks
under her. One, more adventurous
than the others, is exploring around her.
Wilma is a shy bird around
people, but she is a great mother who is always aware of her surroundings. She is very gentle with her chicks.
Wilma, covering her chicks--all but the one adventurer! (photo: Lisbeth Hodges)
Wilma
is available for adoption in our Adopt a Bird program. To find out more information, call
636-861-3225. All adoption
donations are tax deductible. She
can be seen on the Exhibit Line, which is beyond the Kathryn G. Favre Wildlife
Hospital. The World Bird Sanctuary
is open daily from 8am-5pm.
Wilma
is a very beautiful bird. You
should stop on by and see her and her family!
Submitted by Lisbeth Hodges, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
1 comment:
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