• Turkey is a type of pheasant, and the only poultry native to the western hemisphere.

• The bird on your Turkey Day table is probably going to be a hen. The females are slaughtered starting at about 15 pounds. The males (toms) are allowed grow to 40 pounds and are usually used to produce deli meat.

• Male turkeys gobble. Female turkeys make a clicking noise.

• The wrinkly, fleshy bit of skin that hangs off a male turkey’s beak is called the snood. The flap under the chin is called the wattle.

 (Source: University of Illinois Extension Service, New York Daily News)

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