Turkeys might seem unordinary, even silly looking to many who enjoy them for their delectable taste at the dinner table. Outside of our bellies, turkeys are interesting with their defining gobble and jet-black feathers. Their abilities can surprise even the experts of the animal world.

Turkeys are one of the most interesting animals. They are able to run at around 25 miles per hour, fly as fast as 55 miles per hour, and swim reasonably well according to The Cornell Lab and World Animal Protection; a Turkey is no turkey! A female turkey is called a hen, while a male is a gobbler. Ironically, all Turkeys can gobble, and can also make ‘purr’, ‘kee kees’, and ‘yelp’ sounds. These birds consume a wide variety of foods, from leaves and grass to seeds and even frogs. Being native to the eastern half of the US, southeastern Canada, and central Mexico, these birds learned to live in many habitats, and so, consume a variety of different foods. Baby turkeys, called poults, usually stick to seeds, berries, and insects.

The adult male turkeys, called Toms, have the more grander feathers to show off while the hens hold more earthy colors. In addition to their perpetual colors, Turkeys also have the ability to blush. All Turkeys have snoods and wattles which are more prevalent on the fully grown males for attraction purposes. Toms also grow spurs, or an extended part of their leg bone used for fighting

Talking about fighting, Turkeys have poor manners by human standards. Once someone feeds them in a neighborhood, they are likely to stay and lose their fear of people. This leads to wild turkeys eating flower beds, pecking at vehicles and other forms of property damage, and relieving themselves in undesirable locations such as the streets or parking lots. Scaring them without hurting them can solve this issue. Seeing their questionable manners, Thomas Jefferson actually offered Turkey as the esteemed National bird. Though he might have been joking, he did point out how they wouldn’t hesitate to attack redcoats with rifles to protect their territory, while he claimed Bald Eagles could be shooed away by smaller birds. Even though turkeys are interesting, their history is also fascinating on its own.

Turkeys are not just any other bird; they are not just one of the biggest birds in North America. A closer look at this amazing bird can lead to a new perception of fashion and modesty. Therefore, one should look into glancing at turkeys beyond the dinner table.