November 19, 2021
Gobble, Gobble!

This Musing showcases the wild turkey, and aims to increase your knowledge of turkey trivia, so that you will have plenty of interesting, conversational tidbits to use during your Thanksgiving holiday gatherings.

Image of male wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) displaying, Photo by Frank Schulenburg

 Turkey Basics

• There are there are only two species of turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo in North America and Meleagris ocellata in Central America. The ocellated turkey is easily identified by the eye-shaped spots (ocelli) on its tail feathers.
• Turkeys are omnivores.  Although they usually eat plant based foods, such as seeds, buds, berries and nuts, of which the acorn is their favorite, they are also known to eat insects, frogs, lizards and snakes.
• The wild turkey can make many more sounds that the gobble, gobble that they are known for. Other turkey sounds include “purrs,” “yelps” and “kee-kees.” In fact, it is believed that they can make at least 30 different calls.

Image of ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata). Photo by Tony Castro

   Fascinating Turkey Facts

• Even though turkeys are one of the largest and heaviest birds, they can still run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and fly as fast as 55 miles per hour. If they feel threatened, the males, also known as gobblers, tend to run, whereas the females known as hens, fly.

• Turkeys can swim too! By tucking their wings in close, spreading their tails, and kicking, turkeys can swim when it is necessary.

• A turkey’s gender can be determined from its droppings–females produce spiral-shaped droppings and males’ are shaped like the letter J.

Image showing the anatomical structures on the head of a domestic turkey. Photo by DrChrissy

More Fun Turkey Facts

• The distinctive features of the head of a turkey include1. caruncles, 2. snood, 3. wattle (dewlap), 4. major caruncle, 5. beard (pictured above).
  
• Snood length can tell quite a bit about a gobbler, including how healthy he is, and how lucky he will be with the hens. In addition, a 1997 study in the Journal of Avian Biology also found that snood length can be used to predict the winner of a competition between two males.
  
• The wild turkey pictured below, was found by one of our long-time, dedicated volunteers, shortly after meeting his demise on Sullivan Avenue.  After being scooped up and taken to the taxidermist, he found his forever-after home at Wood Memorial Library and Museum where a turkey naming contested reveled that he would henceforth be known as "Tom." Visit one of the largest mounted bird display in Connecticut, housed at Wood Memorial Library and Museum, and see Tom close-up with many of his other feathered friends.

Image of "Tom" the wild turkey circa. 2018 on display in the Wood Memorial Library and Museum

Have a
Happy Turkey Day!

Sources used for this Musing are listed below.

All About Birds. The Cornell Lab Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/overview

Buchholz, Richard. Male Dominance and variation in fleshy head ornamentation in Wild Turkeys. Journal of Avian Biology 28: 223-230. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3676973

Craves, Julie. Julie Craves explains what droppings reveal about Wild Turkeys. (2018, October 2,) Birdwatching website. https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/beginners/birding-faq/julie-craves-explains-droppings-reveal-wild-turkeys/

Toner, Heather. How To Talk Turkey This Thanksgiving. (2018, November 19). Nature. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/how-to-talk-turkey-this-thanksgiving/

Wild Turkey Fact Sheet. (2021, July 26,). Nature. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/wild-turkey-fact-sheet/

Zielinski, Sarah.  14 Fun Facts About Turkeys. (2012, November 15). Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-turkeys-665520/

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