My most recent bird illustration celebrates Thanksgiving with an Ocellated Turkey. I'm obsessed with the warty orange and purple protuberances adorning its head and neck.
The Ocellated Turkey is native to the Yucatan, but is closely related to the Wild Turkeys common in North America. The word “ocellated” derives from Latin for “having eye-like markings.” In the turkey's case, this refers to rows of large metallic-blue and orange spots on its tail feathers. The same root occurs in the name Ocelot, referring to the outsized, two-toned spots adorning this cat's fur. These tail feathers rival a peacock's!
