Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) - in honor of this holiday I decided to share some fun facts about this bird.
Did you know?
The wild turkey is one of only two birds native to North America that has been regularly domesticated. The other is the Muscovy duck. Wild turkeys were first domesticated in Mexico and then exported to Europe. European settlers brought domesticated turkeys back to the New World with them as colonists. Alaska and Hawaii are the only two states without extensive wild turkey populations. Due to overhunting and deforestation that eliminated wild turkeys’ habitat, these birds were nearly extinct in the 1930s. Today, there are more than 7 million wild turkeys, (except in California where they've been extinct for a while).
Wild turkeys have very powerful legs and can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Their top speed in flight is 55 miles per hour. The male's bald head can change color in seconds with excitement or emotion. The birds’ heads can be red, pink, white or blue. Wild turkeys see in color and have excellent daytime vision that is three times better than a human’s eyesight and covers 270 degrees, but they have poor vision at night. Their gobble can be heard up to one mile away.
Because it is a native bird with a proud demeanor and protective instincts, the wild turkey was Benjamin Franklin’s choice for the national bird praising it as as being “a much more respectable bird” than the bald eagle.
However, the Bald Eagle prevailed and went on to become our nation's symbol of pride. The turkey went on to become our nationsymbol of holiday overindulgence.
So....enjoy that bird and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Did you know?
The wild turkey is one of only two birds native to North America that has been regularly domesticated. The other is the Muscovy duck. Wild turkeys were first domesticated in Mexico and then exported to Europe. European settlers brought domesticated turkeys back to the New World with them as colonists. Alaska and Hawaii are the only two states without extensive wild turkey populations. Due to overhunting and deforestation that eliminated wild turkeys’ habitat, these birds were nearly extinct in the 1930s. Today, there are more than 7 million wild turkeys, (except in California where they've been extinct for a while).
Wild turkeys have very powerful legs and can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Their top speed in flight is 55 miles per hour. The male's bald head can change color in seconds with excitement or emotion. The birds’ heads can be red, pink, white or blue. Wild turkeys see in color and have excellent daytime vision that is three times better than a human’s eyesight and covers 270 degrees, but they have poor vision at night. Their gobble can be heard up to one mile away.
Because it is a native bird with a proud demeanor and protective instincts, the wild turkey was Benjamin Franklin’s choice for the national bird praising it as as being “a much more respectable bird” than the bald eagle.
However, the Bald Eagle prevailed and went on to become our nation's symbol of pride. The turkey went on to become our nationsymbol of holiday overindulgence.
So....enjoy that bird and have a Happy Thanksgiving!