When the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day, Indians brought wild turkeys for the feast. Since then roast turkey has been the traditional dish for many such holiday gatherings.

The wild turkey is native only to North and Central America. When the Spaniards conquered Mexico, they found domesticated birds. They introduced the bird into Europe, and it was well established by 1530. Later the English colonists brought it back to North America. All domestic turkeys are descendants of the Mexican subspecies.

The origin of the turkey 's name is uncertain. Some believe the name comes from one of its calls, a soft "turk, turk, turk." Others believe that the bird was originally confused with the guinea cock, which was imported into Europe from Africa through Turkey . Still others suggest that the head of the bird resembles a Turkish fez. The nickname gobbler comes from the male's loud "gobble, gobble, gobble."

The turkey is a large, handsome bird with stately carriage. It is closely related to the grouse, quail, and pheasant. The head and neck are bare and wrinkled and are reddish mottled with blue. The plumage of the male bird is a greenish bronze with gold and coppery reflections. The feathers are tipped with velvety black. From the forehead hangs a tuft of skin that can be elevated. A long bristly "beard" hangs from the center of the chest. The turkey 's tail is broad and rounded. In courtship displays the male spreads it fanwise and raises it above his back as he struts before the female. The feet of the male bird are spurred. The plumage of the female is similar to the male's but duller and without the metallic sheen.

Turkeys live in deep woods, in brushlands, and on the borders of swamps. They do not pair in couples as many birds do, but the males have flocks of females. Each female hides her nest on the ground under weeds and thickets. It is a slight hollow lined with soft plants. There are 8 to 14 eggs, white dotted with reddish-brown. Only one brood a year is raised. While the young are still under her care, the female does not associate with the males. During the day the birds wander through the woods, feeding on insects, seeds, berries, and tender plants. At night their favorite roosts are in trees overhanging water.

Domestic birds are raised in almost every state of the United States. North Carolina, Minnesota, California, Missouri, and Arkansas are the leading producers. The young, called poults, require special care. They must be kept warm and dry for several weeks after they are hatched. If they are caught in the rain or are permitted to run in damp grass, they may die. The birds never completely lose their wild characteristics. Unlike chickens, they range far from their homes and breed freely with wild birds. The largest and one of the most popular of the domestic breeds is the Bronze. Two-year-old males, called toms, average 36 pounds (16 kilograms) in weight. The females are about half as heavy. The Broadbreast Bronze is particularly meaty. The Beltsville White has grown in popularity for small families because of its size. It averages less than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) and has proportionately more breast and leg meat. Other domestic varieties are the White Holland, Bourbon Red, Black, Narragansett, and Slate.

Turkeys make up the family Meleagrididae. There are two species, the Yucatán turkey of Central America ( Agriocharis ocellata ) and the North American ( Meleagris gallopavo ). The latter has five subspecies--the Eastern, Florida, Rio Grande, Merriam's, and Mexican.

Information from Compton's Encyclopedia - The Learning Company, Inc.

You are guest

to visit since November 5, 1999