5 Things You Didn't Know About Turkeys!

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Turkeys are probably most wellknown for their role in Thanksgiving meals, but they're actually incredibly fascinating birds. Today, we're going to go over five things you may not have known about turkeys. Starting with number one, there are only two species of turkeys found throughout the world. When we hear the word turkey, normally the animal that comes to mind is the wild turkey.

[00:00:21]But there's actually another species that can be found in parts of Mexico and Central America called the oscillated turkey. The oscillated turkey is especially striking with a bright blue skin and colorful eyelike spots on their tails. They're actually one of the most beautiful game birds in the world. And although the wild turkey is the only species found in the United States, it actually has five subspecies that live in a variety of different habitats, including forests, grasslands, and even near towns, showing off some surprisingly clever and unusual behaviors. Number two, they have a surprising history. Wild turkeys have a long and fascinating history with humans. Native peoples in Mexico domesticated turkeys centuries before Europeans even arrived. And after Europeans came over, they brought turkeys back to Europe in the 1500s, where they quickly became popular as table fair. The name turkey may come from early trade routes since the birds were shipped through Turkey on their way to European markets. Later, English colonists brought domesticated turkeys back to North America, continuing that connection. So, although you may not have been aware of it, turkeys are actually deeply tied to human history.

[00:01:30]Number three, they're surprisingly athletic. Despite their size, wild turkeys are capable athletes. They can run up to 25 miles per hour, fly short distances at over 50 miles per hour, and when they take off, their wings actually make a distinctive whistling sound that can warn other birds of danger. So often times when you see a group of turkeys, if one flies away, the others aren't far behind. And surprisingly enough, turkeys can swim, tucking their wings, spreading their tails, and kicking through the water when needed. Additionally, male turkeys develop long spurs on their legs used for fighting and dominance that look quite intimidating if you see them as they're walking along. Turkeys might look awkward, but they do actually have some traits that help them to be built for speed, power, and survival. Number four, they have complex social lives. Turkeys are highly social birds and they do a number of different behaviors in order to communicate with their flock. Male turkeys called toms gathered to display strutting, fanning their tails, and gobbling to impress females. Actually had this the other day in town. There were a group of turkeys hanging out, and it was a bunch of males displaying for one female. So, it's quite a sight to see just down the road.

[00:02:58]Females called hens form smaller groups and take on all the responsibility of raising chicks. They communicate with a wide range of sounds such as gobbles, clucks, pers, and yelps, all with different meanings. In winter, flocks can grow to over 200 birds moving together through forests and fields.

[00:03:15]Their social structure is far more advanced than people might expect for such large birds. And finally, we have number five.

[00:03:24]They're actually smarter than you might think. Although it may not seem like it, wild turkeys are intelligent and are very aware of their surroundings. They can remember food locations and navigate large territories. They've been shown to recognize human faces and distinguish between threats and non-threats. And hens use subtle calls to warn their chicks of danger without attracting predators. They also have incredible vision. Turkeys have one of the most advanced visual systems of any bird.

[00:03:49]They can see in color, including ultraviolet light, which not even humans can detect. This helps them spot predators, find food, and even detect subtle feather displays during mating. I also want to take a second to debunk a myth that I heard when I was younger, and that is that if turkeys look up during a rain, they will actually die from drowning. This isn't true, but claims like this are one of the reasons why people think turkeys are not intelligent, but they actually are incredibly smart. So, there you have it.

[00:04:16]Those are five things you may not have known about turkeys. Let me know your favorite one in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a like and subscribe to the channel. Also, make sure to sign up for our email list so you never miss an important update from us. I'll put a link in the video description. Thanks so much for watching. We'll see you next time on Badger Land Birding.