Wild turkeys have a diverse diet that allows them to thrive in a variety of environments across North America. Their preferred foods depend on what is available in their habitat, the time of year, and other factors. Here is an overview of wild turkey dietary habits and favorite foods.
Plant Foods
The majority of a wild turkey’s diet consists of plant matter, including leaves, seeds, fruits, acorns, nuts, berries, and agricultural crops. Turkeys forage on the ground for these foods, using their strong beaks to pick through leaf litter and vegetation. Their favorites include:
- Acorns: All types of oak acorns are a preferred food. Turkeys will walk long distances from woodlands to oak savannas in search of acorn bounty.
- Seeds: Turkeys scratch through soil and leaf litter to find seeds from grasses, herbs, and agricultural grains like corn, wheat, and soy.
- Fruits and berries: Turkeys enjoy seasonal fruits like cherries, grapes, and apples. They also feed on berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
- Leafy greens: Turkeys will eat the leaves, stems, and shoots of a variety of green plants including clovers, grasses, sedges, and agricultural greens.
- Agricultural crops: Turkeys take advantage of corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and other crops, especially during the winter when wild foods are limited.
- Tubers: Wild turkeys dig up and consume tubers, corms, and bulbs of plants like false hellebore.
In the spring and summer, leafy greens, seeds, fruits, and agricultural crops make up the bulk of a turkey’s diet. In fall and winter they rely more heavily on acorns and other nuts, supplementing with leftover agricultural grains where available. Their varied plant diet provides protein, carbohydrates, and other nutrients turkeys need to thrive.
Insect Foods
While not their primary food source, protein-rich insects do play a role in wild turkey diets. Turkeys will forage on the ground and pluck insects off vegetation. Preferred insect foods include:
- Grasshoppers
- Crickets
- Beetles
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Millipedes
- Moths and caterpillars
- Ants
- Fly larvae
Insects provide essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Poults (baby turkeys) eat more insects relative to plant matter, getting needed protein for growth and development. Though not their absolute favorite, insects contribute variety and nutrients to wild turkeys’ diverse diets.
Supplemental Foods
Under certain conditions, wild turkeys may eat supplemental foods to round out their diet:
- Tree buds and catkins: In late winter when food is scarce, turkeys may eat buds from trees like elm, maple, and box elder. Catkins from hazelnut and alder also provide food.
- Mushrooms: Turkeys will forage for mushrooms and fleshy fungi growing on the forest floor.
- Seeds and grain from bird feeders: Backyard bird feeders may attract wild turkeys, especially in winter. They will eat seeds, grains, and suet cakes.
- Cut hay and silage: Turkeys may visit hay fields and cattle feeding areas to pick through cut grass and silage.
- Pet food: Where turkeys associate humans with food, they may eat grain-based foods put out for pets and other domestic animals.
- Compost piles: Turkeys will pick through compost looking for seeds, fruits, and invertebrates.
Though not primary food sources, these supplemental foods add variety to wild turkey diets during lean times.
Preferred Foods by Season
Wild turkeys are opportunistic omnivores, eating what is available during the changing seasons:
Season | Favorite Foods |
---|---|
Spring | Greens, grasses, buds, seeds, insects |
Summer | Insects, fruits, berries, greens, agricultural crops |
Fall | Acorns, nuts, agricultural grains, seeds |
Winter | Acorns, nuts, seeds, winter wheat, supplemental foods |
Their ability to adapt their feeding preferences through the seasons allows wild turkeys to thrive across diverse habitats.
Conclusion
With a diverse palate for plant foods, insects, and supplemental food sources, wild turkeys are adaptable feeders. While acorns and other nuts are a clear favorite in the fall and winter, they display versatile feeding habits throughout the year. Their ability to shift preferences from greens in spring, to fruits in summer, to grains in winter allows wild turkeys to prosper across most of North America despite challenges posed by urbanization and habitat loss. Understanding their dietary habits provides insights into conservation efforts for these iconic game birds.