Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without those majestic, somewhat awkward birds gracing our tables. But beyond the cranberry sauce and stuffing, there’s a whole world of fascinating facts about wild turkeys waiting to be discovered. So, put down your drumstick and get ready to gobble up some wild turkey trivia!
Fun Facts About Wild Turkeys:
- They’re More Vocal Than Just “Gobble, Gobble”: While their iconic gobble is well-known, wild turkeys also have a surprising repertoire of clucks, purrs, and other vocalizations.
- Droppings Reveal Their Secrets: Believe it or not, turkey droppings can tell you the bird’s sex and age. Male droppings are J-shaped, while female droppings are spiral-shaped. The larger the diameter, the older the bird.
- Feathery Fashionistas: An adult turkey boasts an impressive 5,000 to 6,000 feathers, making them the envy of any fashion runway.
- Swagger Isn’t Just for the Boys: While male turkeys are famous for their strutting and tail-fanning displays, female turkeys can also join in on the swaggerific fun.
- From Insect-Eaters to Plant-Lovers: Young turkeys, known as poults, start their lives as insect-devouring machines. But as they mature, their taste buds shift towards a more plant-based diet.
- Fast and Furious: Don’t underestimate these seemingly clumsy birds. Wild turkeys can clock in at a speedy 18 miles per hour on foot and an even more impressive 50 miles per hour in flight.
- A Bird of Courage: Ben Franklin, the founding father with a penchant for the unconventional, actually favored the wild turkey as the national symbol over the bald eagle, calling it a “bird of courage.”
- From the Brink to Abundance: In the early 1900s, wild turkeys faced a bleak future with their population dwindling to a mere 200,000. Thankfully, conservation efforts, fueled by the Pittman-Robertson Act and the dedication of sportsmen and women, have led to a remarkable recovery. Today, there are an estimated 6.5 million wild turkeys strutting across the United States.
Where to Spot Wild Turkeys:
Ready to see these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat? Here are a few national wildlife refuges where you can catch a glimpse of wild turkeys:
- Florida: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
- Georgia: Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge
- Illinois: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
- Massachusetts: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
- Minnesota: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
- New Mexico: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
- New York: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- South Carolina: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
- Texas: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Bonus Fact: Did you know that wild turkeys have a unique appendage called a wattle a fleshy flap hanging from their beak to their neck and caruncles, fleshy bumps adorning their heads and necks?
So, the next time you encounter a wild turkey, remember these fun facts and appreciate these remarkable birds beyond their Thanksgiving association. They’re a testament to the power of conservation and a reminder of the wonders of the natural world.
Full Strut – How It Happens
Turkey hunting wouldn’t be near as much fun if turkeys didn’t strut. The captivating transformation that haunts turkey hunters’ dreams is actually a type of controlled goosebumps. Do you know how they pull it off? Think “turkeybumps. ” Certified wildlife biologist, Bob Eriksen, explained the mystery. The bird can move and regulate the position of its feathers thanks to the tiny muscles at the base of each feather. Those muscles are connected to other very small muscles within the skin. When strutting, the turkey contracts the muscles that control feather position, causing the body feathers to stand erect. The same holds true for a cluster of muscles at the base of the tail that swivel to better display the fan. The same muscles in the wings enable the primary wing feathers to drop to the ground.
Start to finish, a gobble happens fast, lasting about a second. Interesting things happen in that short space of time that the naked eye can’t see. Digital frame rates enable quick shooting and analysis of a single gobble sequence in several seconds. The tom actually tilts its head downward before gobbling, opening its beak wide, probably to gulp down air, and extending its head and neck. During the gobble, the second, or inner eyelid often closes. A loose snood could become entangled in the beak of the bird as it whips around due to the force of the gobble, much like a worm.
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