Where Do Wild Turkeys Live in Nature (& in Which Countries)?

Last Updated on Jan 26 2023

Turkeys are a part of the same family as chickens, pheasants, peacocks, and quail. The family name is Galliformes, and turkeys happen to be the heaviest of all the family members. Common wild turkeys are indigenous to the United States and Mexico, where they flourish today, although that has not always been the case. In the early 1900s, they were all but extinct.

Thanks to preservation efforts, turkeys can now be found living in many states throughout the U.S. and the northern areas of Mexico. Ophthalmic turkeys can be found living in Mexico and Central American countries such as Guatemala. They typically do not live within cities like some wild birds do, but instead, they roam about various habitats that are less inhabited by humans. Here is where you can find wild turkeys.

The Wild Turkey’s Habitat

Wild turkeys rely on trees for cover from the elements and possible predators. Therefore, they tend to live in forest and wooded habitats throughout the United States. They are not picky when it comes to the types of trees that they live around. They thrive near forests of pine, elm, and oak. They do not have to live near trees, though. Many wild turkeys enjoy living in grasslands and meadows too.

Sometimes, wild turkeys make urban communities their home and might be found roaming through fields looking for food or even crossing a low-traffic road. Some turkeys born in captivity get away from their homesteads and start living free lives. These turkeys then reproduce and create new wild turkeys that never know what it is like to live in captivity.

What States Have the Biggest Wild Turkey Population?

Countries like Guatemala and Belize are home to ophthalmic wild turkeys, but the common wild turkey is found mainly in northern Mexico and in many states throughout the U.S. The states with the biggest wild turkey populations include

Even Hawaii is home to wild turkeys that were originally brought over as farm animals but have evolved to live wild in the jungles and urban areas on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai.

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In Conclusion

Wild turkeys tend to be elusive, so many of us never see them when we are out and about. However, if you stay quiet while on a hike in the woods or you watch closely during a camping trip near a forest, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a family of wild turkeys going about their business. Most wild turkeys do whatever they can to stay away from humans, so it is never a good idea to advance toward them if you do happen to spot them in the wild.

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Featured Image Credit: MOHANN, Pixabay