Ocellated Turkey, Melegris ocellata

Ocellated Turkey, Melegris ocellata, Males. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California, taken in the coastal region of Guatemala, March 2020.

Ocellated Turkey, Melegris ocellata, Female or Jake. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California, taken in the coastal region of Guatemala, March 2020.

The Ocellated Turkey, Melegris ocellata, is a member of the Phasianidae Family of Pheasants, Grouse and Allies. They in large in stature. In Mexico they are found in the coastal regions within the Atlantic Slope of the Yucatán Peninsula in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán. From a conservation perspective the Ocellated Turkey is currently considered to be NEAR THREATENED with decreasing populations attributed to habitat destruction and over-hunting where in some areas they have been hunted to near extinction. They are found as ground foragers during the day and take roost at night in trees to avoid predation. They consume insects, leaves, seeds and nuts.