Did you know the Maya believed these birds could have magical power? It turns out turkeys are much more complicated than a walking celebratory meal - why not take a look at...
The reason for this sex-distinct shape is a difference in their cloaca, the combined genital and excrement orifice of birds. In female turkeys, the cloaca is fairly roomy and the droppings can collect and clump up. In males, a rudimentary phallus takes up a portion of the cloaca and reduces the available space. You might be wondering why this dung-shaping doesn't happen in all birds - it turns out that the male turkey is particularly well-endowed amongst avians!
On a side note, turkey droppings can be used as manure or be made into a combustible fuel source suitable for a power plant. Some researchers have even suggested that this biofuel could replace around 10% of our coal needs if it was invested in!
The most obvious link is fairly modern - the official "presidential pardon" of a turkey performed each year at Thanksgiving was established by George Bush in 1989... but sporadic pardons have been handed out in the past. The earliest known pardon was handed out by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the behest of his son. John F. Kennedy is also credited with sparing such a bird in 1963, just a few days before being assassinated.
On a slightly more cynical note, plenty of turkey breeders sent the birds as gifts to the Whitehouse. Harry S. Truman was once such recipient, which doubtless had nothing to do with lobbyists trying to steer the government away from the proposed "poultryless Thursdays" intended to conserve grain supplies!
Things were a bit different in the time of the Maya. The bird was attributed with significant magical powers, functioning as a messenger of the gods or as a "wahyis" or guardian spirit of a sorcerer. It was said that they could seek out and devour the spirit of a sleeping enemy, killing the victim in the waking world as a result. As a result, the birds can be found scattered throughout the iconography of the Maya - sometimes staring balefully at baskets of human remains!
Perhaps they had some inkling of the indignities future humans would inflict on them with basters?
- Foul Fowls (or the Wonderful World of Turkey Droppings)
- Mesoamerican Mealtimes
- Frantic (but Fast) Flappers
- Turkey Talk, or How These Birds Communicate
- Political Pluck (and How Turkeys Had Magical Power in the Time of the Maya)
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| A mixture of majestic and weird... (Suzy Brooks) |
Foul Fowls (or the Wonderful World of Turkey Droppings)
Did you know that you can tell the sex of a turkey from its droppings? The male birds leave a J-shaped offering, whilst the females go with a more stylish spiral—much like an Italian ice cream. In both cases, the droppings are a greenish brown and formed of feces and uric acid.
The reason for this sex-distinct shape is a difference in their cloaca, the combined genital and excrement orifice of birds. In female turkeys, the cloaca is fairly roomy and the droppings can collect and clump up. In males, a rudimentary phallus takes up a portion of the cloaca and reduces the available space. You might be wondering why this dung-shaping doesn't happen in all birds - it turns out that the male turkey is particularly well-endowed amongst avians!
On a side note, turkey droppings can be used as manure or be made into a combustible fuel source suitable for a power plant. Some researchers have even suggested that this biofuel could replace around 10% of our coal needs if it was invested in!
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| The Maya enjoyed turkey... (Ashim D’Silva) |
Mesoamerican Mealtimes
Did you know that humans have been farming turkeys for around 2,000 years?Researchers have found evidence of primitive domestication thanks to turkey remains at the El Mirador archaeological site, dating back to between 300BCE and 100CE. Turkey bones discovered at the site belonged to a non-local species... which implies that the birds had been transported and kept by the Mayans.
We also know that turkey was used as a tamale filling by the Maya, while the Dresden Codex (a book surviving from the 11th or 12th century) clearly depicts the dish being served at celebrations. The Mesoamericans placed such importance on these birds that an Aztec god (Chalchiuhtotolin) of plague, healing and sorcery was styled after them!
The wing of a turkey is highly cambered (meaning that it has a distinct curve to it) and generates a huge amount of lift at the cost of energy efficiency. We actually use the same principle in aircraft—if you look at the wing of a passenger plane you may notice little flaps that extend and make the wing even more pronounced during take-off and landing.
This cambering means that flight is very tiring for the turkey, but it does allow the bird to make a rapid escape from ground predators if needed. A wild turkey can reach speeds of around 50-55mph in a short burst of flight... though they can hit 25mph if forced to run on foot!
Turkeys don't limit themselves to sound when communicating - the "snood" (or drooping bit of red skin over the beak) and wattle (the skin beneath the throat) can be used to signal confidence and health, even changing shades to match the bird's state of mind. The head of the turkey can change between pale pink, blue or red, allowing the bird to communicate simple emotions with color alone!
We also know that turkey was used as a tamale filling by the Maya, while the Dresden Codex (a book surviving from the 11th or 12th century) clearly depicts the dish being served at celebrations. The Mesoamericans placed such importance on these birds that an Aztec god (Chalchiuhtotolin) of plague, healing and sorcery was styled after them!
Frantic (but Fast) Flappers
Ever wondered if a turkey can fly? Whilst most domestic turkeys have had flight bred right out of them (thanks to an increasing amount of bulk) wild turkeys are powerful short-distance fliers.The wing of a turkey is highly cambered (meaning that it has a distinct curve to it) and generates a huge amount of lift at the cost of energy efficiency. We actually use the same principle in aircraft—if you look at the wing of a passenger plane you may notice little flaps that extend and make the wing even more pronounced during take-off and landing.
This cambering means that flight is very tiring for the turkey, but it does allow the bird to make a rapid escape from ground predators if needed. A wild turkey can reach speeds of around 50-55mph in a short burst of flight... though they can hit 25mph if forced to run on foot!
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| Colorful, are they not? (Ruth Caron) |
Turkey Talk, or How These Birds Communicate
Turkeys may be known for their gobbling, but it's really only males that make the signature call. Hens respond with yelping, cackling or cutting (short and sharp calls of excitement) and all turkeys will produce a "putt" sound when alarmed. Drawing attention when being hunted may seem a bit silly, but it may warn a predator that the bird has spotted them and is ready to escape... and thus not worth the effort of chasing!
Turkeys don't limit themselves to sound when communicating - the "snood" (or drooping bit of red skin over the beak) and wattle (the skin beneath the throat) can be used to signal confidence and health, even changing shades to match the bird's state of mind. The head of the turkey can change between pale pink, blue or red, allowing the bird to communicate simple emotions with color alone!
Political Pluck (and How Turkeys Had Magical Power in the Time of the Maya)
Did you know that turkeys have long-standing ties to the American halls of power?
The most obvious link is fairly modern - the official "presidential pardon" of a turkey performed each year at Thanksgiving was established by George Bush in 1989... but sporadic pardons have been handed out in the past. The earliest known pardon was handed out by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the behest of his son. John F. Kennedy is also credited with sparing such a bird in 1963, just a few days before being assassinated.
On a slightly more cynical note, plenty of turkey breeders sent the birds as gifts to the Whitehouse. Harry S. Truman was once such recipient, which doubtless had nothing to do with lobbyists trying to steer the government away from the proposed "poultryless Thursdays" intended to conserve grain supplies!
Things were a bit different in the time of the Maya. The bird was attributed with significant magical powers, functioning as a messenger of the gods or as a "wahyis" or guardian spirit of a sorcerer. It was said that they could seek out and devour the spirit of a sleeping enemy, killing the victim in the waking world as a result. As a result, the birds can be found scattered throughout the iconography of the Maya - sometimes staring balefully at baskets of human remains!
Perhaps they had some inkling of the indignities future humans would inflict on them with basters?
Thanks for reading - for more fauna facts, try...