Domestic Turkey Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Meleagridinae Other Names: Turkey, Large Poultry Bird
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Meleagris gallopavo Domestic Turkey Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Meleagridinae Other names: Turkey, Large poultry bird Physical Description: The modern domesticated turkey descends from the wild turkey. It was domesticated by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica at least 2,000 years ago, with the evidence pointing to what are today the central regions of Mexico. Domestic turkeys come in a variety of size and color. The most popular type of domestic turkey is the Broad Breasted White which is pure white in color, with red skin on its head. A red gobbler is for courtship purposes. These birds are grown in large, fully automated grow-out barns, which may house as many as 10,000 birds. The growing process for these birds has been so well refined; the birds often grow to larger than 50 lbs. Average birds are typically 38-40 lbs. Domestic turkeys weigh twice what a wild turkey does. Due to their large size and rapid growth, they are prone to health problems associated with being overweight, such as heart disease, respiratory failure and joint damage. Even if a turkey is spared from slaughter, they usually have short lives. Diet in the Wild: Domestic turkeys eat pellets/grain and fruits and vegetables. Wild turkeys typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in grasslands and swamps or even up in trees. They feed on nuts (especially acorns), seeds, fruits, insects, small reptiles and salamanders. Diet at the Zoo: Turkey grain, mealworms. Habitat & Range: These turkeys are domesticated; therefore they are kept as pets, found on farms, and poultry farms. Life Span: Up to 10 years, but typically 2-3 years Perils in the wild: Ravens, coyotes, foxes, crows, raccoons, man, poultry industry Physical Adaptations: Turkeys have excellent vision. Their eyes are on the sides of their head allowing them to have periscopic vision. Turkeys can therefore see objects that are not in their direct line of vision. By rotating its head, the turkey has a 360-degree field of vision When a turkey becomes frightened, agitated, excited or ill, the exposed skin on its head and neck can change from its usual pale pink or bluish gray color to red, white, or blue. During mating season, the male turkey's wattle turns scarlet to reflect his elevated sex hormone levels. The fleshy flap of skin that hangs over the gobbler's beak is called a snood and also turns bright red when the bird is excited. Turkeys have two stomachs. The first stomach is called the glandular stomach; here food is softened and broken down by gastric juices. The food then enters the turkey's gizzard, which is extremely muscular and further dissolves the food by grinding it against the gastroliths (stomach stones) before moving the food along into the intestines or back into the glandular stomach for more thorough digestion. 09/04/2012 Turkeys have acute hearing although they do not have an external ear area. Field observations of wild turkeys suggest that turkeys can hear lower frequency and more distant sounds than humans. Wild turkeys are generally good runners due to their powerful legs, reaching up to 25mph Turkeys are highly sensitive to touch in areas such as the beak and feet. This sensitivity is useful for obtaining and maneuvering food. Behavioral Adaptations: Diurnal Live in flocks Domestic turkeys are bred for meat so they are often too heavy to fly. A wild turkey can reach 55 mph in flight. Wild turkeys prefer to sleep perched atop tree branches, where they are safe from predators. They often sleep in flocks and upon waking, call out a series of soft yelps before descending to make sure that the rest of their roosting group is okay after a night of not seeing or hearing one another. Male turkeys are called gobblers due to the gobbling sound they make. Each male turkey has his own unique gobbling "technique," which he combines with strutting to attract potential mates. Male gobbles can be heard a mile away. Female turkeys communicate through clucks and small, chirp-like noises. Only male turkeys display the ruffled feathers, fanlike tail, bare head, and bright bear. Reproduction and Development: A young, wild tom will mate with up to 20 hens. Nesting period is mid-April through mid-June; peak hatch time is about mid-May. Hens will lie 8-16 eggs at a time The incubation period of a turkey egg is about 28 days. Females feed their chicks after they hatch—but only for a few days. Young turkeys quickly learn to fend for themselves as part of mother/child flocks that can include dozens of animals. Males take no role in the care of young turkeys. Baby turkeys are called poults, poults eat insects, berries and seeds. Additional Information: The Aztecs associated the turkey with their trickster god Tezcatlipoca, perhaps because of its perceived humorous behavior. Although most commonly used as fertilizer, turkey litter (droppings mixed with bedding material) is being used as a fuel source in electric power plants. One such plant in western Minnesota provides 55 megawatts of power using 500,000 tons of litter per year. The plant began operating in 2007 The turkey is one of the most famous birds in North America. Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey, not the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States Commercial turkeys can reach 18 to 26 pounds by the age of only 15 weeks Wild turkey reintroduction programs began in the 1940s, and the birds were relocated to areas where populations had been decimated but woodlands were recovering. Such efforts worked so well that wild turkeys now live in areas where they may not have occurred Conservation Status: (IUCN Status) Domestic, least concern Conservation Efforts: Domestic turkeys are not endangered 09/04/2012 Sources: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Wild Turkey Tame Turkey- Dorothy Hinshaw Patent The World of the Wild Turkey-James C. Lewis http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/uof-urd080812.php http://www.livescience.com/17057-turkey-facts-thanksgiving.html http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/wild-turkey/ The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management-James G. Dickson http://www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkeys/wild_turkey_facts.html 09/04/2012 .