Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) in Belize. Photo by Rhett Butler.
In recognition of the American holiday of Thanksgiving, this is the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), a species of wild turkey from the Yucatán Peninsula in Central America, including parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.
The ocellated turkey is closely related to the more widely-distributed, and better-known, wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
The ocellated turkey is a relatively large ground bird. Males average 5 kg (11 lbs), while females average 3 pounds.
Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) in Punta Laguna outside Cancun, Mexico. Photo by Rhett Butler.
