Birds & Birding

It’s that time of year when attention in the United States turns to the wild turkey: the de facto symbol of Thanksgiving. In addition to the meal, turkey images adorn everything from door decorations to advertisements. And chances are, if you live in the U.S., there’s a wild turkey roaming near you.

The wild turkey has become a familiar bird, now scratching even in suburbia. But its familiarity should make it no less fascinating.

Here are some essential turkey facts that you can use to dazzle your family and friends at your Thanksgiving feast. And I’ve included some features on another turkey species – and a turkey look-alike – that are equally cool. We’ve written a lot about turkeys on Cool Green Science over the years, so each section also contains a link where you can go deep into turkey trivia.

So sit back and get ready to gobble (sorry) up all things turkey.