Turkeys are large, heavyset galliforms in the genus Meleagris, indigenous to the Americas. They are among the largest birds in their native ranges, as well as being one of the heaviest birds in the order …

Those odd birds at your Thanksgiving table are even wilder than you thought. Amuse your guests with some offbeat turkey facts.

Dec 19, 2025 · turkey, either of two species of birds classified as members of either the family Phasianidae or Meleagrididae (order Galliformes). The best known is the common turkey (Meleagris …

In the early 1500s, European explorers brought home Wild Turkeys from Mexico, where native people had domesticated the birds centuries earlier. Turkeys quickly became popular on European menus …

Nov 17, 2022 · While they might not look like the fastest birds, Wild Turkeys are surprisingly confident fliers, capable of hitting 60 miles per hour. They are also more agile than they appear.

Domestic turkeys, bred for meat production, are derived from the Mexican subspecies of the wild turkey and have undergone significant genetic changes through selective breeding.

These intelligent birds form complex social groups and spend their days foraging, using their beaks to search for insects, acorns, grains and other delicacies. Turkeys enjoy tight-knit families—not only do …

Nov 8, 2019 · Turkeys have been evolving in North America for more than 20 million years and share a recent common ancestor with other fowl, like grouse and pheasants. It is the wild turkey species that …

Eastern Wild Turkeys are dependent on a varied habitat consisting of hardwood and mixed forests. In the 1800s, Vermont's wild turkeys were pushed to extinction due to extensive clearing of these …

The wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is a large, ground-dwelling bird native exclusively to North America. While all wild turkeys belong to the same species, they are categorized into distinct …