If it were up to Benjamin Franklin the Turkey would have been our national bird and not the Bald Eagle. However, most people only know turkeys from our Thanksgiving table.
A Turkey’s anatomy is truly fascinating and has many features that are rare and one that links them to dinosaurs. The wishbone of a Turkey dates back 150 million years and connects them to the T-Rex and Velociraptor, like the ones in the Jurassic Park movies.
They also have between 5,000 and 6,000 feather if you were counting, they also have a beard, those are the long black hairs on the front of their chest. You can even read a Turkey’s emotions by looking at the skin on their head and face called the wattle or the snood which hangs over their beak. If that flesh is white, blue or pink they are calm, but when the wattle and snood turn bright red a turkey is either agitated or looking for a mate.
Contrary to popular belief wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour, but only for a short distance. They also roost in trees overnight to avoid predators, but will stay on the ground to protect their young. Most domesticated turkeys are bred to be top heavy and full of fat and therefore don’t live as long as their wild cousins and are also completely unable to fly due to their own body weight.
If you are rethinking your Thanksgiving menu you are not alone. More than 16 million Americans are vegetarians and will serve tofu instead of Turkey this holiday season.