Meleagris gallopavo | wild turkey
Introduced
First introduced in 1815 from North America as a gamebird, the wild turkey is an unexpected site along Hawaiʻi’s roadsides. At almost 4 feet long, they’re a hard-to-miss bird, though they can be well camouflaged and still in tall grass when nesting. Like a scrawnier version of the Thanksgiving Day turkey, they have a colorful naked head and neck with dark plumage. In Spring, look for the impressive display as the males fan out their long tail feathers.
Hotspots for wild turkey
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area | Details for Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
- Honua‘ula Forest Reserve (Makāula -‘O‘oma section) | Details for Honua‘ula Forest Reserve (Makāula -‘O‘oma section)
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road) | Details for Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
- Palila Forest Discovery Trail | Details for Palila Forest Discovery Trail
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
- Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail | Details for Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
- Kaulana Manu Nature Trail | Details for Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
- Kaūmana Trail | Details for Kaūmana Trail
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
![Waianapanapa State Park](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waianapanapa-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
Dry forest
![Driving Driving](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/car.png)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Honua‘ula Forest Reserve (Makāula -‘O‘oma section)
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Honuaula-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Dry forestPasture and grasslands
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/PuuWaawaa-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
Pasture and grasslands
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waikii2-300x180.jpg)
![Driving Driving](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/car.png)
Palila Forest Discovery Trail
Dry forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Palila-Forest-Discovery-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Puu-Huluhulu-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Puu-Oo-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kaulana-Manu-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Kaūmana Trail
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kaumana-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)