Wild turkeys are a popular game bird found throughout much of Colorado. According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency, there are an estimated 80,000 wild turkeys living in the state across a range of habitats including mountains, forests, grasslands, and deserts. The two subspecies present are the Rio Grande turkey and the Merriam’s turkey. Turkeys can be found year-round in Colorado but their distribution and habitat usage changes with the seasons.
Where do wild turkeys live in Colorado?
Wild turkeys are found throughout most of Colorado but their range is limited on the Western Slope by arid desert conditions. The highest densities of wild turkeys are found along the Front Range corridor and in the foothills transition zone where ponderosa pine forests, mixed shrublands, agriculture fields, and riparian habitats provide ideal turkey habitat. Some key areas for wild turkeys include:
- Northwest Colorado – Routt National Forest
- North central Colorado – Lower elevations of Roosevelt National Forest
- Northeast Colorado – Pawnee National Grassland
- Southwest Colorado – San Juan National Forest
- South central Colorado – Wet Mountain Valley, Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Southeast Colorado – Pinyon Mesa
- Front Range – Foothills and ponderosa pine woodlands from Jefferson to El Paso counties
Turkeys can also be found in lower densities in mountain shrublands, Gambel oak, and higher elevation forest habitats. Urban populations of wild turkeys are increasingly common along the Front Range as well.
What habitats do wild turkeys use?
Wild turkeys are adaptable birds that utilize a variety of habitat types throughout the year. Their habitat usage changes seasonally based on food availability, cover needs, and reproductive behaviors.
During the winter, turkeys form large flocks and seek out areas that provide food and thermal cover. They primarily roost and forage in ponderosa pine or mixed conifer forests during this time of year. Turkeys prefer south or west facing slopes where sunlight penetrates the canopy. Proximity to agriculture fields provides important winter food sources.
In spring, hens begin to break away from winter flocks to establish nesting sites. They favor areas with a mix of open grasslands, shrublands, or open woodlands. Hens nest on the ground concealed by vegetation. Proximity to water and food sources is also important for nesting and brooding hens.
Males establish breeding grounds on open clearings called leks in spring. These areas allow males to compete for females and are typically situated on knolls, ridge tops, or open meadows with good visibility.
In summer, broods occupy habitats rich in insects and succulent vegetation for early poult development. Riparian corridors, wet meadows, farmland, and oakbrush flats offer good summertime brood habitat.
By fall, poults are capable of stronger flight and birds start to flock together again. They utilize agricultural fields like corn, wheat and hay as well as oakbrush and gambel oak woodlands which provide acorns and berries.
How does turkey habitat change by season?
| Season | Key Habitats |
|---|---|
| Winter | Ponderosa pine forests, south-facing slopes, near agriculture |
| Spring | Open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, near water and food |
| Summer | Riparian corridors, wet meadows, farmland, oakbrush |
| Fall | Agriculture fields, oakbrush, Gambel oak woodlands |
As shown in the table, turkey habitat usage shifts between forested areas in winter to more open habitats in spring and summer aligned with their behavioral and reproductive needs. Proximity to food and water sources remains important year-round.
Distribution of Wild Turkey Subspecies in Colorado
There are two subspecies of wild turkeys found in Colorado – the Rio Grande turkey and the Merriam’s turkey. Their ranges overlap in some areas but in general their distributions are:
Rio Grande Turkeys
The Rio Grande subspecies (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) is found predominantly west of the Continental Divide in Colorado. Its range extends throughout the western half of the state including the San Juan mountains, western valleys, and the northwest plateau. Rio Grande turkeys thrive in more open, arid habitats including:
- Piñon-juniper woodlands
- Oakbrush
- Agriculture fields
- Riparian corridors
- Mountain shrublands
They are well adapted to drier conditions than Merriam’s turkeys. The Rio Grande turkey is the smallest and most colorful of the wild turkey subspecies.
Merriam’s Turkeys
Merriam’s turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) are found primarily east of the Continental Divide in Colorado. Their range covers the northeastern plains, Front Range foothills, wet mountain valleys, and forested parks. Prime Merriam’s turkey habitat includes:
- Ponderosa pine forests
- Aspen groves
- Mixed conifer forests
- Mountain shrublands
- Riparian woodlands
Merriam’s turkeys are well adapted to mountainous terrain and forested areas. They are typically darker in color than Rio Grande turkeys. The two subspecies hybridize in areas where their ranges overlap such as the San Luis Valley.
Turkey subspecies distribution map
|  |
| Credit: Colorado Parks & Wildlife |
This map shows the general distribution of Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkeys in Colorado based on their favored habitat types. As you can see, Rio Grande turkeys dominate the western half of the state while Merriam’s are most common along the Front Range and eastern plains. The two overlap in parts of the San Luis Valley, Wet Mountains, and southern foothills.
Seasonal Distribution and Movements
While wild turkeys occupy the habitats and ranges described above year-round, they exhibit seasonal movements primarily driven by winter survival needs and spring breeding behaviors.
Winter movements
During winter, turkeys form large flocks, sometimes exceeding 100 birds. Their main goal is to find food while minimizing energy expenditure and exposure. To achieve this, wild turkeys:
- Move to lower elevations where temperatures are warmer
- Seek south or west facing slopes that receive more direct sunlight
- Roost in heavy conifer cover for insulation
- Forage in fields and woodlands near roost sites
- Travel along riparian corridors where food is available
If winter conditions are mild, turkeys may not move far. But during harsh winters, they can migrate 10 miles or more to find suitable winter habitat. Their winter range typically extends from 4,500 feet to 7,000 feet in elevation. Turkeys are highly mobile in winter and may use multiple roost sites.
Spring dispersion and breeding
As spring approaches, winter flocks start to break up as hens disperse to establish nesting sites. This typically begins in March and April. Hens seek out nesting areas with concealing vegetation within a couple miles of winter range.
Meanwhile, males compete for breeding access to hens on communal lek sites. Dominant gobblers mate with the majority of hens attracted to a given lek. Males use their ground displays and vocalizations to attract females. Leks are traditional sites that may be used for decades.
Nesting hens have small home ranges of 100-200 acres. Males have larger breeding season ranges up to 2 square miles searching for receptive hens. Movements are mainly driven by breeding behaviors rather than food or cover needs during spring.
Summer patterns
By summer, hens are tied to nesting and brood rearing sites which restrict their movements, especially when poults are young. Hens with poults under 4 weeks old rarely travel more than 0.5 miles from the nest and brood roost sites. They favor habitats rich in insects and vegetation for early poult development.
As poults grow and gain flight strength, summer movements expand to include more of the surrounding landscape. Broods start to mix together in late summer and flocking behavior resumes. Food availability is the primary driver of summer movements.
Males regroup after the breeding season and also make localized movements focused on food resources. Males tend to shift to higher elevations in summer.
Fall movements
By fall, wild turkeys of all ages and sexes form flocks again. Food remains the main factor governing movements. Turkeys take advantage of autumn foods like acorns, berries, and agriculture grains.
As winter approaches again, flocks start to shift back towards lower elevation wintering grounds near roosting cover. The cycle repeats each year following this general pattern of seasonal movement between breeding areas, summer brood range, and wintering grounds.
Ecological Role and Management
As a year-round resident game bird, wild turkeys play an important role in Colorado’s ecosystems and are managed as a valuable wildlife resource.
Ecological importance
Wild turkeys help sustain healthy ecosystems by:
- Dispersing seeds and propagating native plants
- Providing food for predators like coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and raptors
- Controlling insect pest populations
- Aerating soil and facilitating nutrient cycling from their scratching
- Creating nesting cavities for other wildlife when they abandon log hollows
They fill an important ecological niche as a mid-sized omnivore. Turkey populations also provide recreational hunting opportunities which helps fund Colorado’s wildlife conservation efforts.
Wild turkey management
Several management strategies contribute to maintaining thriving wild turkey numbers in Colorado:
- Regulating hunting through limited licenses and harvest quotas
- Supporting a strong predator-prey balance
- Conserving and improving turkey habitat
- Augmenting populations through transplants from other states
- Restricting supplemental feeding in summer to avoid disease transmission at sites where birds concentrate
Ongoing research and monitoring tracks population trends, survival rates, and harvest impacts. Colorado Parks & Wildlife implements hunting regulations and habitat projects aimed at keeping turkey populations productive. Land access programs also help recruit private landowners into turkey conservation efforts.
Thanks to effective management, Colorado offers some of the best wild turkey hunting opportunities in the country. The turkey’s role in ecosystems as a game species provides added incentives for protecting the habitats and migration patterns described in this article.
Conclusion
In summary, wild turkeys are a valued game bird found across a diversity of Colorado habitats. The two subspecies present – Rio Grande and Merriam’s turkeys – occupy different ranges aligned with their favored terrain and vegetation types. Turkeys exhibit seasonal movements driven mainly by winter survival needs and spring breeding behaviors. Their migrations between wintering, breeding, and summer brood habitats comprise an important part of their ecology in Colorado. Management strategies that conserve turkey habitat and regulate hunting pressure allow turkeys to continue thriving across their Colorado range. For those interested in turkey hunting or viewing, familiarity with their distribution, habitats, and seasonal movement patterns can greatly improve your odds of success.
