[1] The species is believed to have experienced a decline in response to land use changes and higher than sustainable harvest by migrant workers and subsistence hunters living in the Yucatán Peninsula region of Central America.

[4] A study conducted in the year 2011 indicated that the ocellated turkey made up a substantial amount of the diets of four prominent ethnic groups of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Tail feathers of both sexes are bluish-grey with an eye-shaped, blue-bronze spot near the end with a bright gold tip.

The spots, or ocelli (located on the tail), for which the ocellated turkey is named, have been likened to the patterning typically found on peafowl.

Rather, his song is distinct and includes some six to seven bongo-like bass tones which quicken in both cadence and volume until a crescendo is reached whereupon the bird's head is fully erect while he issues forth a rather high-pitched but melodious series of chops.

Turkeys spend most of the time on the ground and during the day, they often prefer running to escape danger rather than taking off, though they can fly swiftly and powerfully for short distances when necessary, as typical of gamebirds.

They are known to feed on a wide variety of forage including but not limited to insects, such as beetles, moths, and leafcutter ants, grass seeds, nuts, and leaves.

Male turkeys begin the mating dance by tapping their feet against the ground in rapid succession.

As the turkey completely forgot what he owed the nightjar, the latter complained to Nohochacyum who punished the former by changing his once-melodious voice to guttural thumps.

It is associated with water, rain (especially through the deity Chaak) and fecundity; tribes like the Chʼortiʼ once offered its blood across their fields in hopes of a good harvest.