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 …

May 22, 2018 · Turkeys are dark overall with a bronze-green iridescence to most of their plumage. Their wings are dark, boldly barred with white. Their rump and tail feathers are broadly tipped with rusty or …

Turkeys were formerly considered to belong to a separate family from other chicken-like birds; there are only two species, ours in North America and the Ocellated Turkey in Central America.

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 …

Wild turkeys are large, ground-dwelling birds with long legs, long necks and large fan-shaped tails. They have short, rounded wings. Male wild turkeys have dark, iridescent plumage. Their flight feathers are …

Jul 26, 2021 · Wild turkeys can be found in open woodland, savanna, grasslands, and swamps. The wild turkey is native to North America and is primarily found in the continental U.S. and parts of Mexico …