Turkey facts 101
As the time for great food, family and fond memories draws closer this year once again, many people gather around the table to share a very traditional meal of turkey. Most people might not question this festive food. How much do they really know about this creature they are about to consume along with their stuffing and assorted pies? Here is a list of surprising facts about the turkey, so evenly browned with mouth-watering smells sitting on the table, that might not be so well known:
– A case of mistaken identity resulted in the American turkey being named after the country. When the Spanish first found the bird in the the Americas more than 400 years ago, they brought it back to Europe. The English mistakenly thought it was a bird they called a “turkey” so they gave it the same name. This other bird was actually from Africa, but came to England by way of Turkey (lots of shipping went through Turkey at the time).
– Turkeys can have heart attacks. During U.S. Air Force test runs in breaking the sound barrier, nearby turkeys dropped dead from sudden cardiac arrest.
– Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited.
– Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles per hour. They can run as fast as 20 miles per hour. Commercially-raised turkeys cannot fly.
– A turkey has 157 bones and 3,500 feathers.
– Turkey skins are tanned and used to make cowboy boots and belts.
– At current Thanksgiving feasts, more than 675 million pounds of turkey are consumed.
– Approximately 46 million turkeys will be eaten at Thanksgiving.
– Turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining.
– The average weight of a turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds
– Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented the President of the United States with a live turkey and two dressed turkeys in celebration.
– President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
So as the people throughout the nation lift their fork to their mouths and revel in the great taste of this famous bird, remember these facts before chewing.
Information compiled by DeLayne Locke