A male turkey is typically called a tom, or a gobbler. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation’s website, longer beards … In the realm … The adult male is called the "tom" turkey. The difference is the typical size -- with females being smaller (usually under 18 pounds) while the males can weigh as much as 25 pounds. [citation needed], Turkeys were domesticated in ancient Mexico for food and for their cultural and symbolic significance. A male turkey is called a tom or a gobbler, a female turkey a hen, and a baby turkey a poult or chick. Female turkeys are called hens and are smaller than males, as they only grow to 8 to 10 pounds. In excitement, their entire head, wattles, and snood can turn several different colors based on their mood. The genus has two extant species: the wild turkey of eastern and central North America and the ocellated turkey of the Yucatán Peninsula. From this book, the common name for a male cat was a "tomcat" The "Tom" for turkeys was borrowed from "tomcat" because male turkeys fight and breed very agressivly, just like cats. Many of these supposed fossilized species are now considered junior synonyms. 2. Only about 10 to 20 percent of hens grow beards, and it’s likely a genetic mutation, according to Sciencing.com. 5) Male turkeys are called “gobblers,” after the “gobble” call they make to announce themselves to females (which are called “hens”) and compete with … A group of turkeys is called a flock or a rafter. Another key feature of a male turkey is their beard; it is a cluster of coarse hair that grows down from their chest and averages 9 inches long. ... A male turkey is called a tom or a gobbler, a female turkey a hen, and a baby turkey a poult or chick. Here’s How Online Games Like Prodigy Are Revolutionizing Education. Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green legs. The White Turkey is the domesticated species of turkeys, which is raised for food. Its handsome dark and densely feathered body is topped by a bare neck. There are occasions when the hens will display to strange humans- once again, to show the human they are higher in the flock social order. In the April 2015 issue, you described differences in the shape of male and female turkey droppings. A male turkey is called either a tom or a gobbler. Spanish traders brought some that had been reared by indigenous Americans to Europe and Asia. (Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS) TURKEY FACT #7: Move over, American bald eagle. Look for the presence of leg spurs to spot a male turkey. The female turkey, when an adult, is called a hen. The turkey got its name because it reached European tables through shipping routes that passed through Turkey, amazing isn’t it? These are thought to arise from the supposed belief of Christopher Columbus that he had reached India rather than the Americas on his voyage. Most of the time when the turkey is in a relaxed state, the snood is pale and 2–3 cm long. A male turkey that has not been castrated is called a Tom; if he has been castrated he is a Tim. Take a close look at a male Wild Turkey—if you dare. Juvenile male turkeys are called jakes until they reach adulthood. The Meleagridinae are known from the Early Miocene (c. 23 mya) onwards, with the extinct genera Rhegminornis (Early Miocene of Bell, U.S.) and Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lime Creek, U.S.). Find out in a nutshell! [citation needed], Chan Chich Lodge area, Belize: the ocellated turkey is named for the eye-shaped spots (ocelli) on its tail feathers, This article is about all species of turkey. The Long, Fleshy Protrusion Above A Male Turkey’s Beak Is Called A Snood. In Russia it is listed in the Red Book. Each foot has three toes in front, with a shorter, rear-facing toe in back; males have a spur behind each of their lower legs. A turkey fossil not assignable to genus but similar to Meleagris is known from the Late Miocene of Westmoreland County, Virginia. jake. After reading this you can identify that flock and gang are widely used for wild groups whereas rafter is the modern term for a number of domesticated turkeys in poultry. Cutting is a series of loud and fast clucks mixed in with some yelps. After birth, baby turkeys are unable to fly for the first two weeks. Spanish chroniclers, including Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Father Bernardino de Sahagún, describe the multitude of food (both raw fruits and vegetables as well as prepared dishes) that were offered in the vast markets (tianguis) of Tenochtitlán, noting there were tamales made of turkeys, iguanas, chocolate, vegetables, fruits and more. 1. Adult toms boast featherless red, blue or white skin on their heads; the color changes as males grow excited. 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