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Turkey bird 20070326-by Xuaxo-

15 Fun Facts About Turkeys

The turkey is a huge ground-dwelling bird endemic to the Americas, distinguished by its rotund body, featherless head, and facial protuberances. Most of us connect turkey with a lavish Thanksgiving feast, but there’s a lot more to the large bird than how tasty it is. These majestic birds have been hailed as gods, are capable of advanced communication, and have persisted in the wild despite humankind’s greatest efforts to devour them all. Turkeys are highly gregarious, intelligent, and sensitive animals. They form long social relationships with each other and are quite affectionate; rather similar to dogs. Check out these fun turkey facts to learn more about them.

Read also; 25 Interesting Facts about Birds

1. The turkey was named after the country Turkey

Turkey bird J1-by Jamain-

The initial source was a guinea fowl(“Turkish chicken”) endemic to Madagascar transported to London by Turkish merchants and the term was later applied to the New World bird by English colonists who were familiar with the previous species. Another theory states that turkey probably got its name during the Columbian exchange because it was being imported from the Turkish Levant. The British at the time associated the bird with the country Turkey and the name prevailed.

2. Turkey’s eyesight is three times greater than a human with 20/20

Scientific American and contemporary literature both agree that a turkey’s eyesight is way better than a person with 20/20 vision. Just like any other prey species, the eyes of a wild turkey are situated on the side of its head which results in monocular vision, giving a 270-degree field of view. According to a 2001 Elsevier Science magazine, the major part of birds has one of “the most sophisticated retinas of any vertebrate,” which allows them to see in color. Turkeys are no exception, relying extensively on color vision to identify mates and detect predators. 

3. Turkeys communicate via a range of sounds

Strutting Turkey-by P. Hughes-

Turkeys communicate primarily through two means; vocal and visual. They frequently employ both ways concurrently. For appeal and dominance, a tom may gobble while also strutting and posturing (the act of expanding its tail fan, dragging its wings, and making its body appear larger). Wild turkeys make around 20 different forms of vocalizations and other sounds. Birds use these cries to convey danger, establish social standing, and entice a partner. To signal danger, all turkeys will “putt.” Biologists and hunters believe that this sound notifies errant hunters or predators that the turkey has observed them and that their efforts to surprise the bird are futile. Also, this warns other turkeys within hearing distance of the danger.

4. A turkey’s sex can be determined from its excrement

Different turds are excreted by male and female turkeys. The feces of the hens are coily tiny clusters, whereas those of the toms are long and slender. Males and females having such diverse bowel movements might initially appear unusual, but when you consider their anatomy, it makes a lot more sense. The large intestine of female turkeys opens into the cloaca, where the waste products leave. The droppings can coil and clump since this narrow passageway is wide and long (remember, it fits around their eggs as well). Male turkeys have a primitive phallus in their cloacas, which is positioned near the end of their digestive tract. It means less room for droppings to exit and no wiggle room for coiling.

5. They are adept swimmers

Birds swimming in the sea at sunset by Jess Loiterton-

Turkeys have been shown beyond doubt to be capable of swimming, which may come as no surprise to some. However, most turkeys stick to shallow depths because they can’t go deeper. It is reported that turkey ancestors were formerly aquatic birds that lived on the ground and hunted for food in Europe and Asia’s marshes. As a result, turkey feathers evolved into waterproof skin and scales on their feet over time. 

6. Turkeys are quicker than you might imagine

You wouldn’t know it by looking at a turkey, yet these awkward creatures are fast runners in comparison to most birds. Although domestic turkeys are bred to have short legs, wild turkeys can reach speeds up to 20 miles per hour on land, and an amazing 59 miles per hour in the air. Unfortunately, they can only fly over short distances and cannot sustain flight for long periods of time. Turkeys are very much slower than some other birds though. The ostrich, for example, has the fastest legs and can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour. 

7. Turkeys can be quite aggressive animals

Turkey – Calcutta 01-by Kakara-

Turkeys may attempt to control or attack humans they perceive to be subordinated, and this behavior is particularly common during the breeding season. Turkeys can be violent when confronted with flashy things or their own reflection. Because the motivation to drive away the “intruder” is high, and because the reflection does not evaporate when the turkey approaches it, the bird will frequently show towards or attack the reflection until changing light circumstances cause it to vanish.

8. Turkeys are employed as clan animals in various societies

The Creek tribe (whose Turkey Clan name is Pinwalgi or Penwvlke), the Shawnee and Miami tribes, the Navajo, the Zuni (whose Turkey Clan name is Tona-kwe), and other Pueblo tribes of New Mexico all have Turkey Clans. The turkey was also the Unalachtigo tribe’s (a division of the Delaware nation) distinctive tribal symbol. Turkey feathers have been utilized in many tribes’ traditional regalia, particularly the feathered cloaks of eastern Woodland Indians such as the Wampanoag and the feather headdresses of southern tribes such as the Tuscarora and Catawba. The Turkey Dance is one of the Caddo tribe’s most important social dances, coupled with songs about war honors and tribal pride. Several eastern tribes, such as the Lenape, Shawnee, and Seminoles, also hold turkey dances.

Read also; 10 Norwegian Traditions you should know

9. Turkey males grow beards

A male wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) strutting -by Frank Schulenburg-

Gobblers have a red, featherless head that can occasionally be blue and white in appearance. They also have conspicuous wattle and fleshy, red growths on their necks known as caruncles. A tuft of black, hair-like strands that protrudes from their chest serves as their “beard” as well. Young gobblers, known as jakes, have beards that are only around 6 inches long, as opposed to the 7-9 inches or more than adult gobblers (known as toms) have.

10. Only turkeys have wattles and snoods

The snood is a caruncle erectile, fleshy protuberance that can only be found on the forehead of turkeys. Both male and female wild turkeys have wattles and snoods, but the males, have considerably more protruding and conspicuous wattles and snoods. This is important during mating season, when additional blood flows to the wattle, giving it a bright scarlet color. According to the National Audubon Society, this is one of the main functions of the wattle since it makes the toms attract hens. Captive female wild turkeys prefer to mate with long-snooded males, and during dyadic interactions, male turkeys defer to males with relatively longer snoods

11. Only male turkeys gobble

Male turkey-by Obsidian Soul-

12. Turkey eggs are significantly larger than chicken eggs

Turkeys, like chickens, lay eggs. Turkey and chicken eggs have certain similarities but are also quite different. Turkey eggs are significantly larger than chicken eggs, more than 50% larger. A chicken egg weighs about 50 grams, whereas a turkey egg can weigh between 65 and 115 grams but is often close in size to duck eggs. 

13. 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving in the United States

Roasted turkey by cottonbro studio-

Every year from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, 88% of Americans eat turkey on as surveyed by the National Turkey Federation. On Christmas alone, almost 22 million turkeys are consumed and 19 million on easter. The typical Thanksgiving feast consists of roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Turkey pot pies, burgers, and meatloaf are among the popular turkey dishes. Turkey’s consumption in the United States has increased in recent years and luckily the production has kept up as well. Turkey is an integral feature of many holiday celebrations and will most likely remain a staple of traditional holiday meals for many years to come.

Read also; 10 Great Facts about Thanksgiving

14. Turkeys can blush

Did you know that turkeys blush? Just like humans, when a turkey is scared, irritated, enthusiastic, or ill, the exposed skin on its head and neck will turn from its usual pale pink or bluish gray to a bright red, white, or blue. The male turkey’s wattle turns scarlet to reflect his elevated sex hormones during mating season. The snood also turns bright red when the bird is agitated.

15. Turkeys are smarter than you think

Turkey Birds ABDS-TK-2-by Shadowmeld Photography-

Turkeys are exceedingly curious and inquisitive creatures who, just like the dogs and cats in our homes, are playful individuals with very unique personalities. Turkeys are good memorizers, for instance, they can remember the specifics of an area that makes up their home range. They also grow familiar to you like pet dogs if you’re patient and attentive to them. They will get a little bit closer to you every day until they determine you are okay, at which point they become pretty amiable.

Turkeys eat a lot of troublesome insects, so having a flock of them around can be great pest management for your yard. Turkeys are good pets if you can give them enough space and shelter. Wild turkeys supply food for their predators and have an impact on the populations of the plants whose seeds and nuts they consume.