The turkey is an integral part of Thanksgivings Day traditions, dating back to the early days of the Pilgrims. These birds remain the centerpiece and symbol of this festive occasion, but how much do we actually know about them? Turkey day is fast descending upon us, and this Thanksgiving you can surprise your family with these 20 interesting facts on these feathered fowls.
1. Wild Turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour, for short distances only though!
2. Domestic Turkeys can’t fly, their bodies are too heavy
3. But they’re still fast on the ground, running at a speed of up to 25 miles per hour
4. Turkeys also have better vision than human beings
5. These gobbling game birds have two stomachs
6. Turkeys are extremely intelligent and can learn and visualize precise details of any territory up to 1000 acres in size
7. The average turkey has anywhere between 5,000 to 6,000 feathers
8. Which is roughly the same number of turkey feathers used to create Big Bird’s costume on Sesame Street
(Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon, Wikimedia Commons)
9. Turkeys can recognize each other by voice because each turkey has its own unique voice
10. The long fleshy protrusion hanging from the beak is only found on males and is called a snood
11. The other fleshy part hanging from the neck of the birds (in males and females) is called a wattle
12. A Survey held in the recent past by the National Turkey Federation showed that approximately 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving
13. Most people prefer Thanksgiving leftovers, leading to the first TV dinner being made from the same
14. Minnesota leads the country in turkey production, selling between 44-48 million turkeys a year
15. Most turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving are approximately 16-18 weeks old, which is when the bird reaches adulthood
16. Male Turkeys are extremely protective and aggressive, and will even attack their own reflection if they perceive it as a threat
17. Male turkeys are also the only ones that gobble, as the females have their own distinct clicking sound they make
18. Baby turkeys are called poults
19. According to ancient Mexican culture and Mayan, Aztec and Toltec Mythology, the turkey was referred to as “the jeweled birds”, or “the Great Xolotl”
20. June is officially National Turkey Lovers Month
