Welcome to the web page of Tom Turkey
Home
Store

All About Wild Turkeys

All About Wild Turkeys

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an upland ground bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey, and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey, which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey (not the related ocellated turkey). Although native to North America, the turkey probably got its name from the domesticated variety being imported to Britain in ships coming from the Levant via Spain. The British at the time therefore associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and the name prevails. An alternative theory posits that another bird, a guinea fowl native to Madagascar introduced to England by Turkish merchants, was the original source, and that the term was then transferred to the New World bird by English colonizers with knowledge of the previous species.

SRC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_turkey

Benjamin Franklin would have preferred to have the Wild Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, chosen as the national symbol of the United States. Although the barnyard variety is a rather stupid creature (leading to the insulting tone of the term 'turkey'), the original wild form is a wary and magnificent bird. Wild Turkeys usually get around by walking or running, but they can fly strongly, and they typically roost overnight in tall trees. Turkeys were formerly considered to belong to a separate family from other chicken-like birds; there are only two species, ours in North America and the Ocellated Turkey in Central America.

SRC: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/wild-turkey

How Climate Change Will Reshape the Range of the Wild Turkey

How Climate Change Will Reshape the Range of the Wild Turkey

Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect this bird’s range in the future. Click on the source link below to view their map and data.

SRC: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/wild-turkey

Wild Turkeys vs. Domestic Turkeys

Domestic turkeys are the same genetic species as wild turkeys but are raised under controlled conditions on farms in order to provide meat. There are many types of turkey farms, from large-scale commercial operations to smaller free-range or organic facilities. Find out more at https://www.thespruce.com/pictures-of-wild-turkeys-4121970.

Pages

Connect to Tom Turkey's Website Tom Turkey's Website
Connect to Tom Turkey's Website
Tom Turkey FAQ Page Tom Turkey's FAQ Page
Questions asked to Tom Turkey from children around the world.
Tom Turkey's Biography Tom Turkey's Biography
The Biography of Tom Turkey
All about Thanksgiving All About Thanksgiving Board
Tom Turkey put together a Pinterest Board with everything about Thanksgiving.
The first Thanksgiving menu First Thanksgiving Menu
Information about what was served at the first Thanksgiving
Presidential Turkey Pardons Presidential Pardons
Turkeys Pardon by Presidents

All About Wild Turkeys


Coloring Pages

Thanksgiving Placemat Thanksgiving Placemat
Check out my placemat...it is sure to keep you busy while the adults prepare for the big feast!
Terrified Turkey Terrified Turkey Coloring Page
Tom the Turkey suggest since everyone decorates for Christmas early and songs play in stores, why not skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas and eat the pig.

Educational Fun

Counting with Tom Turkey Counting With Tom Turkey
Count these holiday items with Tom Turkey.
Adding with Tom Turkey Adding with Tom Turkey
Practice your addition with Tom Turkey!

Puzzles

Tom Turkey Word Search Tom Turkey's Word Search
Can you find all the hidden words in my word search?
Santa's Workshop

Pinterest Board

WELF-NPC North Pole City Radio On-Air