AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Feeding Ecology of Merriam's Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1996
Authors:Rumble, MA, Anderson, SH
Journal:American Midland Naturalist
Volume:136
Issue:1
Date Published:1996
ISBN Number:00030031
Keywords:Meleagris, Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianidae
Abstract:We studied the feeding ecology of Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in the Black Hills, South Dakota, between 1986 and 1989. Adult birds consumed 78 kinds of food, of which four food categories constituted >79% of winter diets and six food categories constituted >75% of summer diets. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seeds were the preferred winter food and birds selected habitats where pine seed abundance was highest. During drought, ponderosa pine produced fewer seeds and winter turkey diets were predominantly kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) fruits and herbaceous foliage and seeds. Merriam's turkeys consumed more green foliage from late winter through spring. Summer diets were mostly grass seeds and foliage. Arthropods comprised >60% of the poult diets. Poults ≤3 wk old consumed more arthropods than poults >7 wk old. Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) were the primary arthropods eaten by poults. Brood hens selected macrohabitats where arthropod abundance was highest. Poults selected arthropods with large mass/individual and disregarded some arthropods that were abundant but with low mass/individual.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2426641
Short Title:American Midland Naturalist
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith