What pattern defines the tail feathers of the Ocellated Turkey, *Meleagris ocellata*?
Answer
Dark, metallic blue-green spots, known as ocelli, encircled by blue or green rings.
The Ocellated Turkey is distinctly recognized by its tail structure. Unlike the brown-banded tail seen on the Wild Turkey, the *Meleagris ocellata* features prominent, dark, metallic blue-green spots on its tail feathers. These distinctive markings are called ocelli. A crucial detail is that each ocellus is surrounded or encircled by a vibrant ring of bright blue or green coloration, which gives the bird its common name. Furthermore, these specialized tail feathers are also uniquely tipped with a band of white, adding further contrast to the metallic spotting.
Related Questions
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