A turkey is either one of two species of large birds in the genus Meleagris. Turkeys are classed in the gamebird order. Formerly, they were considered a distinct family, Meleagrididae, but more recently they were reclassified as a subfamily (Meleagridinae) of the pheasants and their allies[citation needed]. As with many galliform species, the female is smaller than the male, and much less colourful. With their wingspans of 1.5-1.8 meters, the turkeys are by far the largest birds in the open forests in which they live, and are rarely mistaken for any other species.
The modern domesticated turkey was developed from the Wild Turkey. The Ocellated Turkey was probably also domesticated by the Mayans. It has been speculated that this species is more tractable than its northern counterpart, and was the source of the present domesticated stock, but there is no morphological evidence to support this theory. In particular, the chest tuft of domestic turkeys is a clear indicator of descent from the Wild Turkey, as the Ocellated Turkey does not have this tuft.
Turkeys are widely hunted, particularly the Wild Turkey in North America. Unlike their domestic counterparts, the turkeys are wary and agile flyers.
Naming
When Europeans first encountered these species in the Americas, they incorrectly identified them with the AfricanHelmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris), also known as the turkey-cock from its importation to Central Europe through Turkey, and the name of that country stuck as also the name of the American bird. The confusion is also reflected in the scientific name: meleagris is Greek for guinea-fowl.
Wild Turkeys may occasionally be found in urban areas.
The names for the domesticated Turkey in other languages also frequently reflect its exotic origins, seen from an Old World viewpoint, and confusion about where it actually comes from. The many references to India seen in common names go back to a combination of two factors: first, the genuine belief that the newly-discovered Americas were in fact a part of East Asia, and second, the tendency to attribute exotic produce to some particular place that at that time symbolized far-off, exotic lands. The latter is reflected in terms like "Muscovy Duck" (which is from South America) and indeed was a major reason why the name "turkey-cock" was transferred to Meleagris species.
The native Nahuatl name of the Wild Turkey is guajolote (or an older spelling, xuehxolotl).
In Turkish the bird is called hindi which means "from/related to India" as does French(poulet) d'inde ("(chicken) from India"), from which French dindon and IdoDindo.
In Catalan it is called gall dindi, literally meaning "Indian chicken".
In Hebrew the turkey is called tarnegol hodu (תרנגול הודו), which literally means "Indian chicken" Coincidentally, the Hebrew word for India (hodu) is a homonym for "thanks," contributing to a popular misconception that the word's etymology connotes "Thanksgiving chicken."
In Japan the turkey is called shichimencho (七面鳥) and in Koreachilmyeonjo, both of which translate as "seven-faced bird". This is said to reflect the ability of the bird, particularly the male, to change the form of its face depending on its mood.
In Chinese it is called huoji (火鸡) which means "fire chicken", named after the color of the head.
For names in other languages for the Wild Turkey, see list of names for the Wild Turkey.
Several other birds which are sometimes called "turkeys" are not particularly closely related: the Australian brush-turkey is a megapode, and the bird sometimes known as the "Australian turkey" is in fact the Australian Bustard, a gruiform.
Wild turkey track, Georgetown, South Carolina
Asexual reproduction
Turkeys are notable for their ability, rare amongst higher species, to reproduce asexually. In the absence of a male, female Turkeys are known to produce fertile eggs. The individual produced is often sickly, and nearly always male. This behaviour can interfere with the incubation of eggs in Turkey farming[1].
Fossil turkeys
Many turkeys have been described from fossils. The Meleagridinae are known from the Early Miocene (c.23 mya) onwards, with the extinctgeneraRhegminornis (Early Miocene of Bell, USA) and Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lime Creek, USA). The former is probably a basal turkey, the other a more modern bird not very similar to known turkeys; both were much smaller birds. A turkey fossil not assignable to genus but similar to Meleagris is known from the Late Miocene of Westmoreland County, Virginia (Olson, 1985).
In the modern genus Meleagris, a considerable number of species have been decribed, as turkey fossils are robust, fairly often found, and turkes show much variation among individuals. Many of these supposed fossil species are now considered junior synonyms. One, the well-documented California TurkeyMeleagris californica,[2]
became extinct recently enough to have been hunted by early human settlers[citation needed], though its actual demise is more probably attributable to climate change at the end of the last ice age. The modern species and the California Turkey seem to have diverged approximately one million years ago (Olson, 1985).
Turkeys known only from fossils:
Meleagris sp. (Early Pliocene of Bone Valley, USA)
Meleagris leopoldi (Late Pliocene of Cita Canyon, USA) - formerly Agriocharis
Meleagris progenes (Rexroad Late Pliocene, Meade County, USA) - formerly Agriocharis
Meleagris sp. (Late Pliocene of Macasphalt Shell Pit, USA)
Meleagris anza (Early Pleistocene of San Diego County, USA)
Meleagris californica (Late Pleistocene of SW USA) - formerly Parapavo/Pavo
Meleagris crassipes (Late Pleistocene of SW North America)
