Turkey Tidbits (aka Conversation Lifelines)

For AzarÉl Greetings Photography, I’m usually all about the dainty songbirds and cute critters in our woods. But let’s pause the usual programming for some other, much larger avian residents—the ones we usually associate with overeating. Yep, the wild turkey! We’ve spotted them strutting through our campfire area, and every once in a while, they get a little bold and wander onto our Sunrise Deck where my photography is done. Below you can see a wild turkey with the feeding platform and our campfire circle in the distance.

Brian and I have a legendary turkey tale that was relayed to us by our neighbor. He was looking out one morning when he saw a flock of turkeys in his backyard. Smack-dab in the middle of the flock was our orange cat, Tibbs! When the turkeys decided it was time to move on and walked into the woods, our cat just tagged right along. He was dwarfed by those birds but totally not intimidated! Maybe he friended the flock when he was a stray in the woods. Brian and I will have to retell this one at the Thanksgiving dinner table!

The above being said, sometimes little conversational rescue operations are needed during the holiday meal. Did it just go quiet? Ask, “So, what’s that wobbly thing on the turkey’s neck all about?”  Did someone just start an awkward political rant? Franklin is the answer. Just ask them, “Did you know Franklin called the Bald Eagle a coward?” (Trust me, arguing over colonial ornithology is much safer than arguing over current events.) These turkey tidbits are your secret weapon against all holiday conversational predicaments!

Not the Butterball; The Real Deal

To be clear, we’re talking wild facts and wild turkeys! The domestic birds on the dinner table were selectively bred to be absolute giants with maximum meat; they’re essentially feathered, flightless couch potatoes built for gravy. The birds we see in the woods, on the other hand, are the real deal.

On a sidenote, Brian’s search for our Thanksgiving centerpiece began a little behind schedule. (Monday of Thanksgiving week is a tad tardy.) Brian found our turkey in Denver PA, raised by an Amish family. We were told the turkey was roaming the area that very morning. Typical Lancaster County story; can’t get any fresher than that!

Did Franklin really want the turkey as our national bird?

Not officially. Franklin did complain about the choice of the Bald Eagle, calling it a bird of “bad moral character” and a “rank coward,” he never actually proposed the turkey as the national bird. He simply wrote a letter to his daughter praising the turkey as a more “respectable bird” and a true “original native of America.”

What’s the Wobbly Thing on a Turkey’s Neck?

That fleshy flap that hangs over their beak is called the snood, and the one under their chin is the wattle. Think of them as mood rings. During mating season, a tom’s head and neck can change color in seconds, shifting between red, white, and blue based on his excitement or mood! The vibrant colors are part of his courtship display. When hens are choosing a mate, they prefer the toms with a longer, more vibrant snood.

Phil or Tom: Who Wears It Best?

Tom Turkey’s ‘beard’ is more like chest hair. There’s often a tuft of coarse, hair-like feathers hanging from a tom’s chest called a beard. This grows continuously throughout his life, sometimes reaching up to 12 inches long. It appears to be a way of attracting mates, acting as a display of dominance and health. Who do you think looks better in a beard: Phil or Tom?

The Turkey, the Road Runner, and Florence Griffih-Joyner

Turkeys can run up to 25 mph for short distances when the adrenaline is kicking in to escape predators. The strides of chased gobblers can measure 4 feet. How fast can a roadrunner go?  20 – 26 mph. Let’s add Florence Griffith-Joyner into the mix. She set the women’s 100 meters official world record: 10.49 seconds. Her average speed over the entire 100 meters was about 22 mph. In a race between the wild turkey, road runner, and Florence Griffith-Joyner, it’s pretty much neck-and-neck!

Turkey Talk

The iconic “gobble, gobble” call is primarily a male’s way of attracting a mate and can be heard up to a mile away! But honestly, thinking that’s all they say is like thinking a dog only says “woof.” Their vocabulary is far more extensive. Biologists have identified 28 different vocalizations, including clucks, yelps, and purrs, used for various types of communication within the flock. Whether they are warning others of danger or just chit-chatting, the wild turkey’s got a great vocabulary!

A Tale of Two Turds (Use with EXTREME caution!)

This is a genuine turkey trivia gem. Male turkey droppings are characteristically shaped like a J-curve or a spiral, while female droppings are more of a piled-up, coiled, or bulbous shape. Again, it’s probably not a great idea to share this particular forensics finding with your fellow diners.

On that note…

It’s probably best to draw things to a close. Which turkey tidbit will you bust out over the mashed potatoes this Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving from Brian and I! May you be blessed beyond measure!

These turkeys are not wild; but they’re wildly happy! Waddle and Gobble were recently pardoned from becoming Thanksgiving dinner by President Trump.Check out their stylish ‘digs’ at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington. One of them added his ‘two-cents’ in President Trump’s pardon speech: “Today we continue a time-honored American tradition…” followed by loud gobbles from one of the turkeys.

Photo Source Link: Trump’s turkey pardoning turns political, but Waddle and Gobble are spared

Sources:

10 Fun Facts About the Turkey
Audubon.org

Fun Facts About Wild Turkeys on Presque Isle
GoErie.com

Did Ben Franklin Want the Turkey to Be the National Bird?
The Franklin Institute

You Can Identify a Turkey by the Shape of Its Poo
Commonplace Fun Facts: Mind Blowing Facts You Didn’t Know