Abstract

MARQUEZ-OLIVAS, Marcelo; GARCIA-MOYA, Edmundo; GONZALEZ-REBELES ISLAS, Carlos  and  VAQUERA-HUERTA, Humberto. Roost sites characteristics of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in Sierra Fria, Aguascalientes, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2007, vol.78, n.1, pp. 163-173. ISSN 1870-3453.

Sixteen roosting sites of Gould's wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) were found between October and November of 2001 and May of 2002 in Sierra Fría, Aguascalientes. A large percentage (87.5%) of the roost sites was located in oak-pine forest (in pine stands), at an elevation range of 2500 to 2650 meters. Eight roost sites were on the upper portion (2/3) of the ridge, and 7 at northeast exposures with an average slope of 38.9 ± 12.6%. Most (81.2%) of the roost trees (n =170) were pines (Pinus teocote, P. durangensis, P. leiophylla and P. michoacana), 17.6% oaks (Quercus laurina, Q. grisea, and Q. eduardii), and 1.2% madrones (Arbutus arizonica). More than half (62.5%) of the roosting sites were frequently used during the period of study and the remaining sites were occasionally used. Most of the roost sites were near bait sites and small agricultural areas. The number of roost trees found at roosting sites varied from 1 to 23. The average distance within roost trees was of 24.4 ± 17.8 m. The average roost tree height was 16.6 ± 4.4 m and the average diameter at breast height (dbh) was 43.2 ± 11.5 cm. The selection of pines as roost trees by wild turkey may be due to tree structure. However, in places without pines, wild turkey used oaks, madrones and sycamore with similar characteristics of pine for roosting.

Keywords : protected species; game bird; habitat; Sierra Madre Occidental.