Male wild turkey strutting his stuff (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

27 November 2025

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) practice polygyny — many females mated to one male. Their mating ritual requires that the males dance to attract females.

So why are these three, below, strutting together if only one will get to mate with the lady?

Males in wild turkey flocks are usually brothers who collaborate to attract the opposite sex.  The less dominant brothers display but won’t become fathers … unless they sneak some action on the side when their brother is not watching.

In this case nobody won. Better luck next time.

Happy Thanksgiving!