Did you Know? List of Facts about Turkeys
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Turkeys, trivia and information, including some useful statistics about animals will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. Interesting Facts about Turkeys are as follows: - Fact 1 - Definition: Turkeys are large American gallinaceous birds belonging to the genus
Meleagris, especially the North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and the domestic turkey, which was probably derived from the Mexican wild turkey, but had been domesticated by the Indians long before the discovery of America - Fact 2 - Turkeys got their name from the incorrect belief that they came originally from Turkey!
- Fact 3 - Gallinaceous birds are described as heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game birds including the turkey, grouse, quail, pheasant and Chickens
- Fact 4 - The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of the northern species (var. Mexicana). Its tall feathers and coverts are tipped with white instead of brownish chestnut, and its flesh is white.
- Fact 5 - The Central American, or ocellated, turkey (M. ocellata) is more elegantly colored than the common species
- Fact 6 - The Australian, or native, turkey is a bustard (Choriotis australis) - a large, ground-nesting bird
- Fact 7 - The turkey is the largest game bird in North America
- Fact 8 - Wild Turkeys stats and facts
- Weight: 25 ponds
- Height: 3 feet
- Habitat: Wooded areas with plenty of trees
- Lifespan: 13 years
- Wingspans: 1.5–1.8 metres (4.9–5.9 ft)
- Diet: Turkeys eat insects, acorns, berries, buds and small reptiles
- Fact 9 - Turkeys have a distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak
- Fact 10 - Female Turkeys are smaller and much less colorful than the males
- Fact 11 - "Heritage turkeys" and "wild turkeys" can fly
- Fact 12 - The Californian Turkey (Meleagris californica) became extinct about 10,000 years ago
- Fact 13 - Benjamin Franklin suggested making the wild turkey, not the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States
- Fact 14 - The turkey is the favorite meal for Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations
- Fact 15 - The collective name for a group of turkeys is a Rafter
- Fact 16 - Male turkeys are called Toms
- Fact 17 - Female turkeys are called Hens
- Fact 18 - The names given to babies are Poults or goblets
- Fact 19 - Turkeys grunt, make a "gobble gobble sound"
- Fact 20 - The Wattle is the flap of skin under the turkey's chin
Facts about the Turkeys - Scientific Names / Classification
Scientific Names / Classification of Turkeys - The scientists who study animals (zoology) are called zoologists. Each animal that is studied is classified, that is, split into descriptive groups starting with main groups (vertebrates and invertebrates) the Families of animals are also included and the families are then split into species. These various scientific facts about Turkeys are as follows: - Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subfamily: Meleagridinae
Genus: Meleagris
Facts about Turkeys
We have included a selection of trivia and interesting facts about Turkeys which we hope will be of help with homework. Most of these interesting facts about Turkeys are quite amazing and some are little known pieces of trivia and facts! Many of these interesting pieces of animal information and fun facts about Turkeys and info will help you increase your knowledge on the subject of animals and Turkeys. |
