Where do turkeys come from?
Turkey is a variety of pheasant. Archaeological evidence suggests turkeys roamed North America as far back as 10 million years ago. Native Americans domesticated them about 2,000 years ago.
Wild turkeys are found in hardwood forests with grassy areas and spend the night in trees. They have excellent vision and hearing. Their field of vision is 270 degrees. They can fly short distances at up to 90 km/h and can run at speeds up to 40 km/h. Turkeys do not see well at night.
Domesticated turkeys do not fly, due to selective breeding.
A male turkey is called a "tom" and a female turkey a "hen." A large group of turkeys is called a "flock."
Why are they called turkeys?
There are several theories:
- The Native American name for turkey is "firkee."
- The wild turkey's call sounds like "turk-turk-turk."
- Christopher Columbus named them "turka," which is a peacock in the Tamil language of India. Columbus thought the New World was connected to India.
Why do turkeys gobble?
Male turkeys gobble, hens make a clicking sound. The gobble is a seasonal call for the males. They also gobble when they hear loud noises and when they settle in for the night.
What are those fleshy things on turkey heads?
The long, red, fleshy area that grows from the forehead over the bill is a "snood," while the fleshy growth under the turkey's throat is called a "wattle." These pieces fill up with blood and turn bright red when a tom wants to attract a hen but they can also turn blue if the turkey is scared. If a turkey isn't feeling well, the snood and wattle become very pale.
Are there different breeds?
Common domesticated breeds include: Bronze, Broad Breasted Bronze, Broad Breasted Large White, Black, Bourbon Red, White Holland, Narragansett, and Beltsville Small White.
How did turkey become the bird of choice for holidays?
A type of harvest festival had been celebrated for many years in England and roast goose was part of the offerings. When pilgrims came to the New World, they carried on that tradition but there weren't many geese. Since there were lots of wild turkeys, they roasted the turkeys instead. Turkeys started to become more popular in the Old World after the publication, in 1843, of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge bought a large turkey for Christmas dinner after seeing the error of his ways.
How many turkeys are grown in Canada?
Canada is the eighth largest producer of turkeys at 19.6 million a year. The United States is number one.
How many are eaten?
In 2005, Canadians ate 9.6 million whole turkeys, according to figures from the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency. We consumed a total of 138.6 million kilograms of turkey, or about 4.3 kg per person.
The average Canadian eats turkey about 15.5 times a year — almost three-quarters of the turkeys consumed annually are eaten on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The top turkey-eating country in the world is Israel at 17 kg per person every year. Here's how other countries measure up, per person:
- United States: 7.7 kg.
- France: 6.7 kg.
- United Kingdom: 3.6 kg.
- Mexico 1.5 kg.
Photo courtesy www.nismat.org
Why do I feel sleepy after eating turkey?
Turkey contains an amino acid called L-Tryptophan. It's thought to be a natural sleep aid and helps produce serotonin, which has a tranquilizing effect. Starchy foods, such as potatoes, contain L-Tryptophan.
What's the nutrient content?
| Nutrient | Dark meat (raw, skinless, boneless)(meat from turkey thigh and drum-stick) Per 100 gram serving | White meat (raw, skinless, boneless)(meat from turkey breast) Per 100 gram serving |
| Calories | 105 | 103 |
| Fat | 2.73 g | 0.82 g |
| Cholesterol | 61 mg | 50 mg |
| Protein | 19.1 g | 23.4 g |
What's with the cranberry sauce and stuffing?
It's believed Native Americans taught the colonists how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn, squash and pumpkin dishes. That's why the traditional turkey meal includes cranberries.
The origins of stuffing are not certain. Some experts say it's a traditional dish made from bread and vegetables and most probably originated in Eastern Europe. The pilgrims likely transplanted this from the Old World.
