State officials want your help to count wild turkeys in Massachusetts

MassWildlife officials are asking residents for help in counting wild turkeys.

Officials are trying to get an accurate count of toms and hens to monitor population health and estimate the fall harvest. MassWildlife is asking residents to report sightings online at this link through August.

The survey asks residents to separately count male and female turkeys. Male turkeys tend to be bigger, have a dark brown body, and a red, blue or white head. Females are a lighter or rust brown color, and have a blue-grey head.

Wild turkeys were widespread before European colonization, but by the mid-1800s, after years of hunting and habitat loss, there were no more native turkeys in Massachusetts.

They were reintroduced into the state in the 1970s, and at last estimate, the state turkey population was over 30,000.

The growth of the turkey population is considered a conservation success story; the wild turkey is now even Massachusetts' official game bird.