the two living types of the Truthühner, the Wildtruthuhn and the Pfauentruthuhn, is the single wild representatives of the Fasanenartigen in the new world; further 7 types are known from fossil findings.
Wildtruthuhn (Meleagris gallopavo)) This biggest hen-bird (length 100 until 125 cm) of it tail-length 40-50 cm; Weight according to subtype 7-17 kg, was exterminated in whole sharing of its spread-area, could be settled again in many cases, however. So, the Truthuhn is to be found in the light Mischwäldern from South-Mexico until approximately 40° more northern breadths today. One distinguishes 7 subtypes, that adapted itself also to different altitudes, by size and coloring.
Until the wars of independence, the Wildtruthühner were so frequent in the United States that they could essentially contribute to the nutrition for the European immigrants. Benjamin Franklin even wanted to turn the turkey - instead of the present-day white-head-sea-eagle - into the coat of arms-animal of the USA.
Characteristics Gleaming, bronze-colored back-plumage metallic opposite it and the dun one until black stomach, the head and the neck of the cock are colored bare and blue until reddish. The red, wart-similar skin-rags are characteristic at head and neck as well as a long, pale swell-body at the reason of the waiter-beak; with it, performs courtship display stands upright this swell-body and colors itself brilliantly reddish-blue. The dark brown wings show one green and yellow iridescent Bänderung. In contrast to the weaker colored female, the feet of the cock are gespornt.
Way of life The Truthühner are distinct forest-inhabitants, who find its food mainly of the ground. To this, fruits and seeds count like smaller vertebrates, worms, snails and insects as well. They stride through the undergrowth on that occasion outside the incubation in swarms separated after sexes and track down its loot before itself. So they hike through bigger regions during the day in the winter and sleep sociably in the protection against carnivores on trees (roosts). Despite its high weight, the Truthühner are quite good planes, only makes use rare from its flight-fortune, however.
Reproduction In the spring, the Truthühner come back at its hatcheries. At, usually established, Balzplätzen try the sexually mature cocks to alert to itself through detailed Balzhandlungen as many as possible hens. The skin-rags at head and neck swell strongly, the waiter-plumage is raised highly like the tail as well and is spread. Now, the cock swaggers around, pushes is, rolling reputations from and beats the wings powerfully on the ground. Mercilessly, each other cock, that comes into its proximity, is attacked on that occasion.
The lured hens leave the Balzplatz directly after the Tretakt. There is no social relationship between the Geschlechtspartnern. While the hens later take care of the brood, the cocks form relaxed associations together with the not yet sexually mature animals, that itself away from from all brood-events detains.
At hidden places, the hen scratches a ground-hollow and pads it sparsely with plant-sharing. The nest consists of at least 8, usually however more (15-20) eggs. After 28 days, the boys slip and leave the nest soon. Even if they became airworthy already after 14 days, they still become from the hen of gehudert. The squabs separate only in the following spring of the mother.
Pfauentruthahn (Agriocharis ocellata)) The spread-area of the Pfauentruthuhns is much more narrowly restricted and includes only the subtropical valleys. The type is very rare and was revealed to only 1920. Altogether the Wildtruthuhn very similarly, however, the Pfauentruthühner remain somewhat smaller, and the metallic shiny plumage seems darker, cock: Length 90-100 cm. These birds owe its name to the showy eye-stains at the end of the long tail-feathers.
Haustruthuhn In Mexico and in the southwest of the USA, the Wildtruthühner were domesticated by the Native Americans already early. So the Spanish conquerors found it as pets and brought it to Europe (1518-1524). Later, one tried to naturalize also the game-form in sharing of Europe, achieved only local successes despite more thoroughly tend until today, however.
The Haustruthuhn or the "turkey" show essential differences in behavior and physique opposite the game-form; so, some breeding-races reach up to 22,5 kg of weight. The small white turkey ("baby-turkey"), that can be bred easily and grows up fast, is generally known today.
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