The turkey is a large bird that is closely related to other game birds such as pheasants, chickens and quails. The turkey has become famous across the western world as being a special meal on large family occasions including Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Fast Facts about Turkeys
1. When Europeans first encountered turkeys in America, they incorrectly identified the birds as a type of guinea fowl – i.e., as members of a group of birds which were thought to typically come from the country of Turkey. The name of the North American bird thus became “turkey fowl”, which was then shortened to just “turkey”
Also Read:10 Amazing Bird Facts (Hawk)
2. Turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals that are highly social. They create lasting social bonds with each other and are very affectionate; rather similar to dogs.
3. Domestic or tame turkeys weigh twice what a wild turkey does and are raised on farms for profit. Most domestic turkeys are so heavy they are unable to fly.
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4. Wild turkeys typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in grasslands and swamps. They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and salamanders.
5. To woo those mates, male turkeys have body appendages called snoods, wattles and beards. Snoods are the fleshy protuberances that hang over their beaks, wattles are the dangly bits on their necks, and beards of the long feathers that hang down from their chests. This makes them awesome.
6.Wild turkeys are able to fly at up to 55 mph, however only for relatively short distances. Most domestic turkeys however are unable to fly due to being selectively bred to be larger than would be suitable in wild circumstances.
7. During the mating season, male turkeys make gobbling noises in order to try and attract a female turkey to mate with. The female turkey finds somewhere safe to make her nest and lays between 6 and 12 eggs which hatch after an incubation period of about a month.
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8. Despite its large size, both species of turkey have a number of predators within their natural environment. Foxes, snakes, raccoons, wildcats and humans are the most common predators of the turkey.
9. Adult male turkeys are called toms and females are called hens. Very young birds are poults and adolescents are called jakes.
10. The lifespan of Turkey is 7-10 years.
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