Abnormal eggs of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys on the Edwards Plateau, Texas

We studied the reproductive ecology of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) in the Edwards Plateau region, Texas during 2005 and 2006. Runt eggs from a single adult female were observed through three nesting events over 2 years. Mean mass and volume for the runt eggs Were 44% of normal Wild Turkey eggs. Production of runt eggs is common in domesticated gallinaceus birds. Yet little information is available on runt egg production in wild gallinaceous birds. To our knowledge, our observations are the first which indicate runt egg production occurs in Wild Turkeys.