This yr, do not head to your Thanksgiving gathering empty-handed. Take these wild turkey enjoyable information with you, and use them to fill awkward silences.
We guarantee your hosts will recognize your contribution greater than one other cranberry salad.
Let’s discuss turkey, certainly one of North America’s nice native species.
1. Birds of a feather…
Individual turkeys have some 5,000 to six,000 feathers. Each of the five subspecies of North American wild turkey has barely totally different plumage, however brown is the dominant colour. Domesticated turkeys — the birds destined for the dinner desk — are typically white. See: Liberty and Bell, the fortunate duo pardoned by President Joe Biden.
2. … do not at all times flock collectively
Wild turkey toms (males) and hens (females) lead pretty separate lives. Apart from breeding season, the dudes hand around in all-male flocks. Hens — who shoulder 100% of child-rearing duties — kind their very own society with their chicks.
Wild turkey mother with chicks. (Alan Schmierer / Flickr Creative Commons)
3. Land, air and sea
For butterballs, turkeys certain are surprisingly fleet-footed. They can run as much as 18 miles per hour and, much more impressively, fly at bursts of fifty mph, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s proper, we stated fly. Wild turkeys’ wings aren’t only for present (in addition they use them for slap fights).
Allow us to additional blow your thoughts: If they should, turkeys can swim. They tuck their wings in shut, unfold their tails and kick.
A wild turkey takes flight at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. (Veronica Hinke / USDA)
4. Warts and all
Between spurs, wattles, caruncles and snoods, wild turkeys are closely accessorized with bizarre physique elements.
Spurs are bony spikes on the again of every decrease leg; the wattle is the flap of pores and skin underneath the turkey’s chin; caruncles are fleshy bumps on the pinnacle and throat; and the snood is a fleshy flap that hangs from the beak.
5. Mood swings
A wattle’s colour is affected by blood move, which makes it one thing of a temper indicator. During mating season, further blood flows to a male tom’s wattle, turning it vivid scarlet. A white wattle could possibly be an indication of a sick turkey, and the wattle appears to be like blue when a turkey is scared.
A wild turkey’s wattle serves various functions, from releasing warmth to attracting a mate. (Rita E / Pixabay)
6. Gobbledygook
It’s true, turkeys do say “gobble, gobble.” But their vocabulary additionally contains cackle, kee kee and yelp.
7. Bathroom break
This subsequent enjoyable reality is certain to be a winner on the children’ desk.
Did you possibly can inform a turkey’s age by taking a look at its poop? The bigger the diameter, the older the chicken. You may inform the intercourse of the turkey that left the droppings: Male droppings are j-shaped; females’ are spiral-shaped.
8. Strength in numbers
U.S. farmers raise more than 200 million turkeys annually for consumption. By comparability, all the wild turkey inhabitants is roughly 7 million.
The chicken almost went extinct within the 1900s as a result of overhunting and habitat loss, however conservation efforts introduced the wild turkey again from the brink. If you are ever in southern Illinois, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is a good place for turkey watching.
9. Close shave
Male turkeys sometimes have a “beard,” and if you happen to’re guessing it grows from the wattle, effectively that might make sense, however you would be incorrect. The beard is a patch of coarse feathers that springs from the middle of the chicken’s breast.
A wild turkey’s beard hangs from its chest, not its neck. (Midnight Believer / Flickr Creative Commons)
10. Odd man out
In the turkey household, the Ocellated turkey is that relative who at all times reveals as much as gatherings means overdressed for the event.
The Ocellated is definitely a separate species from the North American wild turkey, present in elements of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. With its stunningly colourful feathers, this turkey appears to be like extra like a peacock, and perhaps that is why it does not get invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
