A Wild Turkey

Eastern Wild Turkey

Turkeys are either of two species of large birds in the genus Meleagris native to North America, and since domesticated and raised for food, within the poultry group. Males of both turkey species have a distinctive fleshy wattle or protuberance that hangs from the top of the beak (called a snood). They are among the largest birds in their ranges.

Quotes

• TURKEY, n. A large bird whose flesh when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude. Incidentally, it is pretty good eating.
  • Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary (1911).

• I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharking and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird.
  • Benjamin Franklin, letter to Sarah Bache (January 26, 1784).

• The very port and gait of a swan, or turkey, or peacock show the high idea he has entertain'd of himself; and his contempt of all others. This is the more remarkable, that in the two last species of animals, the pride always attends the beauty, and is discover'd in the male only.
  • David Hume, Treatise of Human Nature (1739-40), Book 2: Of the passions, Part 1, Section 12.

• Turkeys are intelligent, social, curious, and sometimes even funny. I wish people were more like turkeys sometimes. … We're going to have a special celebration for turkeys this November, where we're going to hang out with turkeys, we're not going to eat them, we're just going to kind of chill, hang out, talk with the turkeys, eat a little veggies.
  • Biz Stone, “Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone talks about turkeys and Farm Sanctuary”, ad for Farm Sanctuary (18 October 2011), reported in “Twitter founder Biz Stone likes turkeys, wishes people were more like them”, in VentureBeat.com (12 November 2011).

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