Turkey Facts

Wild turkeys can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a turkey.

A spooked turkey can run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. They can also burst into flight approaching speeds between 50-55 mph in a matter of seconds.
So close, yet so far

A wild turkey has excellent vision and hearing. Their field of vision is about 270 degrees. This is the main reason they continue to elude some hunters.

Gobbling starts before sunrise and can continue through most of the morning.

Turkeys fly to the ground at first light and feed until mid-morning. Feeding resumes in mid-afternoon.

Turkeys spend the night in trees. They fly to their roosts around sunset.

Minnesota led the United States in turkey production in 2001. Forty-three million turkeys were produced.

Turkey eggs hatch in 28 days.

The fleshy growth under a turkey’s throat is called a wattle.

Turkeys have a long, red, fleshy area called a snood that grows from the forehead over the bill.

The caruncle is a red-pink fleshy growth on the head and upper neck of the turkey.

Israelis eat the most turkeys.....28 pounds per person.

The costume that "Big Bird" wears on Sesame Street is rumored to be made of turkey feathers.

Turkey skins are tanned and used to make cowboy boots and belts.