Did Ben Franklin really argue for turkeys to be the national symbol of the United States? Why do we call the leg a “drumstick”? We’ve got answers to your burning turkey questions.
Every year at Thanksgiving, families and friends gather to share personal stories and perhaps reflect on the early history of the United States. But aside from deciding whether to ask for seconds, not much is said about the guest of honor at the holiday table: the turkey.
That’s a shame, since that big, tasty bird has left a significant mark on history, science, language, and culture. So maybe on this Thanksgiving, take a moment to appreciate the turkey’s story with these remarkable facts and anecdotes gathered from across the centuries.
Turkeys are a ubiquitous bird, especially during the Thanksgiving season. But do these large, ground-dwelling fowl actually swim? It turns out that turkeys are excellent swimmers! Both wild and domesticated turkeys take readily to water, using their natural buoyancy and adaptations to paddle across ponds and rivers
How Well Can Turkeys Swim?
Turkeys are very capable swimmers compared to many other bird species. When swimming, wild turkeys tuck their wings in close to the body to become more streamlined They fan out their tail feathers to help propel them forward. Their feet paddle to generate thrust. Using this technique, turkeys can motor along steadily at a decent clip through calm waters
Researchers have observed wild turkeys living near water sources regularly swimming across ponds and lakes Some flocks stay within a quarter mile of water while others roam up to half a mile away, This demonstrates their innate comfort and ability when it comes to swimming
While turkeys can’t match the endurance of waterfowl like ducks, they can handle short swims of several hundred feet easily. Their swimming skills help them escape predators, migrate, and access food and resources.
Why Wild Turkeys Swim
For wild turkeys, swimming serves several important purposes:
-
Accessing food and water – Turkeys may swim across a pond to reach better feeding areas or drink from a water source. Staying near water helps them survive.
-
Escape from predators – Turkeys use water as a barrier between themselves and ground predators like foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. Swimming to safety is an effective survival tactic.
-
Travel and migration – Swimming allows turkeys to efficiently cross rivers and lakes during movements between ranges. This increases the territory available to them.
-
Brood rearing – Turkey hens with poults (chicks) will swim to lead young birds to aquatic food sources full of protein like frogs, fish and insects. Poults can swim quite capably.
-
Courtship displays – Male turkeys may showcase their swimming abilities to attract females during breeding season. Strong swimming can signal a fit, dominant mate.
So while not natural swimmers like ducks, swimming is still an invaluable skill for wild turkeys.
Breed Differences in Swimming Ability
There are various turkey breeds, some more domesticated than others. But most breeds can swim decently well.
Domestic broad-breasted turkeys are a bit more cumbersome in the water than leaner wild birds. But even commercial turkeys become capable swimmers if given the opportunity.
Wild turkeys with experience swimming generally do so with more ease than domesticated varieties. However, the buoyancy and aquatic adaptations needed for swimming have largely remained intact in turkeys, whether wild or bred for meat production.
How Turkeys Swim Compared to Other Birds
Turkeys hold their own in swimming ability compared to many other upland gamebirds. Chickens detest entering water, while pheasants also avoid it if possible.
Turkeys are much more natural and willing swimmers than these similar species. Among landfowl, their padding skills could be considered average to above average.
Their decent buoyancy, leg strength and familiarity with water gives them an edge over other ground birds in short distance swimming.
The Role of Swimming for Domestic Turkeys
For heritage breed and free range turkeys with outdoor access, swimming can provide enrichment if a pond or stream is available nearby. It allows them to express natural behaviors.
For commercial turkeys raised indoors, swimming is generally not applicable. However, some research indicates that allowing indoor-reared turkeys limited swimming opportunities may offer health and welfare benefits.
Overall, while not critical, swimming can still be relevant for domesticated turkeys, whether indoors or out. It provides exercise and mental stimulation when the opportunity arises.
Interesting Facts About Turkeys and Water
To wrap up, here are some fascinating tidbits about turkeys and their aquatic prowess:
-
Turkey chicks can paddle through water right after hatching – it comes naturally!
-
Some wild turkeys will dive into ponds when feeling threatened, swimming stealthily with just their head poking out.
-
Male turkeys gobble louder near water, hoping the sound will travel farther to attract females.
-
Turkeys can sprint across the surface of water by running on top of it for a few strides.
-
Groups of swimming turkeys are called “rafts.”
-
Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey’s swimming ability made it a better national symbol than the bald eagle!
So while turkeys do spend most of their time on land, they are actually quite adept at swimming and exploiting water resources for their benefit when needed! Both wild and domesticated turkeys retain this ancestral aquatic agility. Their impressive amphibious skills show how adaptable and resilient this charismatic bird truly is!
Ben Franklin didn’t actually want the turkey to be the national bird
Although the esteemed Founding Father once declared the wild turkey to be more virtuous than the bald eagle, there’s scant evidence that he preferred it as the national symbol of his new country.
Franklin’s feathers got ruffled when, in 1783, he learned that the Society of the Cincinnati—a group of officers under the command of George Washington—wanted to establish a hereditary order of merit, to be passed down from oldest son to oldest son. Franklin, a fifth-generation youngest son, expressed disdain for the officers and their aristocratic trappings, including their choice of the eagle as the emblem for their badge.
In a letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache, he wrote, “For my own part I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly … For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.”
But did Franklin truly regret the eagle as the national symbol? As author Elizabeth Gawthrop Riely wrote in the journal Gastronomica, “The sober historian must be skeptical. After all, eight years earlier, in 1776, he himself had served on the committee with Jefferson and Adams when the turkey was not chosen, and at other instances Franklin used the eagle rather than the turkey as an emblem. No other evidence in the vast Franklin archive mentions his support of the turkey as national bird.”
More likely Franklin, knowing that his lengthy letter would probably be published in U.S. newspapers, singled out the eagle as part of a larger cautionary tale against creating aristocratic institutions.
Turkeys are all-star athletes
Look! Up in the sky! Wild turkeys can fly short distances up to 55 miles an hour. (Domestic turkeys can’t.) Wild turkeys can also run 12 miles an hour and, completing the triathlon, they are actually adept swimmers. They move through the water by tucking their wings in close, spreading their tails, and kicking.
Granted, wild turkeys don’t swim often. As John James Audubon wrote in 1831, “I have been told by a friend that a person residing in Philadelphia had a hearty laugh on hearing that I had described the Wild Turkey as swimming for some distance, when it had accidentally fallen into the water. But be assured, kind reader, almost every species of land-bird is capable of swimming on such occasions, and you may easily satisfy yourself as to the accuracy of my statement by throwing a Turkey, a Common Fowl, or any other bird into the water.” (Actually, please don’t do that.)
Swimming Turkey Thinks its a Duck
FAQ
Can baby turkeys swim?
Turkeys Can Swim! Crossing a river: “The old and fat birds easily get over, even should the river be a mile in breadth; but the younger and less robust frequently fall into the water, – not to be drowned, however, as might be imagined.
Can turkeys run 20 mph?
They can run up to 18 mph on foot and up to 50 mph in flight.Nov 22, 2024
What are 5 interesting facts about turkeys?
- Turkeys are fast. …
- They roost in trees at night. …
- Turkeys are large. …
- Wild turkeys are omnivorous. …
- Their distinctive features help to express emotion. …
- An adult turkey has 5,000 – 6,000 feathers. …
- Turkeys were once threatened with extinction. …
- Turkeys have a better known fossil record than most birds.
Why can’t domestic turkeys fly?
The domestic turkey lost its ability to fly through selective breeding that created heavier, broad-breasted birds, a feature much desired by chefs and commercial turkey producers. The shorter legs of the domestic turkey also mean it can’t run as well as its wild cousin.
Can you swim in Turkey?
You can sunbathe and swim in the sea during the spring and autumn, too. Although Turkey is quite conservative compared to Britain and other Western European countries, it is secular and you can wear a swimming costume or bikini on the beach.
Can you swim with dolphins in Turkey?
Swim with dolphins in Turkey is the best solution to sleep problems, with severe stress, neurological and mental disorders, and depression. Of course, swimming once will not cure chronic illnesses.
Can you swim in Turks and Caicos in November?
The water temperature in Turks and Caicos during November is around 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit, which is swimmable, although you may get cold if you stay in the water for an extended period.
What are some wild facts about turkeys?
While you are likely familiar with the Wild Turkey (especially this week!), you may be surprised to learn these wild facts: 1. Turkeys are fast. Turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and are capable of flying as fast as 55 miles per hour (in short bursts).
What is a wild turkey?
The Wild Turkey is one of the most recognizable birds in North America and can be found in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. While you are likely familiar with the Wild Turkey (especially this week!), you may be surprised to learn these wild facts: 1. Turkeys are fast.
How many wild turkeys are there?
In the early 20 th century, there were about 200,000 wild turkeys in the United States. Thanks to conservation efforts, there are approximately 6.5 million wild turkeys in the United States today, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation. 8. Turkeys have a better known fossil record than most birds.