Turkey Facts
Some Fun And Interesting Turkey Facts
The realm of turkey facts is a wide and interesting one, and below you will find quite a few which you may not have been aware of. We will discuss wild turkey facts primarily, as they are the root animal who has given us the wonderful Christmas and Thanksgiving Day traditions we have so fondly become accustomed to. The turkey on the dinner table means comfort, warmth, family, and complete delight. The turkey in the wild, however, is a creature of great mystery for those who are not graced with wild flocks close by. To kick off our wild turkey facts, maybe we could discuss that they roost in trees during the nighttime hours. This offers them protection from predators and harsh elements until the sun rises again.
Turkeys will also take short, panicked flight and roost when they feel threatened during the day. Other turkey facts include the wide variety of habitats to which the wild turkey can acclimate. Though they are prone to hardwood and grassy areas where seeds, shoots, and bugs are most plentiful, they can adjust to marshy or dry climates if needs be. Turkeys love a light, misty rain, and you are far more likely to see them during these slight drizzles than at any other time of the day. Rain brings growth, and tasty grubs to the surface of the earth, all while cooling and sheltering the wild turkey. They mustn’t look up during a thunderstorm or severe rain shower, though, because they can easily drown.
Some turkey facts are a bit more surprising than others, such as the one which states that they can, and do, have heart attacks. During Air Force testing for the breaking of the sound barrier, massive flocks of wild turkeys were found dead. It was determined that they had instantly died of fright and dropped from the sky or fell dead on the fields from the noise and confusion. Another startling set of turkey facts have to do with reasons that they can be so illusive to hunters. The wild turkey can burst into running speeds of 20 miles per hour almost instantly when startled or threatened, and can hop into a 55 mile per hour flight pattern within seconds. They also have excellent vision, retrieving clear vision at a 280 degree radius.
Being a bit fascinated with turkey facts himself, Benjamin Franklin rallied strongly for the wild turkey as our national bird, but was trumped on the decision. Some domestic turkeys closely resemble their wild relatives in feather coloration and patterning, but most captive bred turkeys are much heavier than the wild variety. This makes flight extremely difficult, but still possible with certain breeds.