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Even wild turkeys know what time of year it isand are keeping an eye out

Image 1. A group of turkeys is called a rafter. Photo: Mikkel Bergmann/Unsplash tk

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This means many people will be thinking about turkey.

They will be thinking about where to buy one and how to cook it. They will want to want to know

how many leftovers there will be for sandwiches the next day.

Yet how much do any of us really know about turkeys?

Most of the turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving come from farms. Wild turkeys still live across North

America. Turkeys have been around for about 5 million years.

Turkeys Don't Get Enough Respect

In Mexico, there is a species of turkey known as the ocellated turkey. The feathers shimmer orange

and turquoise.

Bradford Kasberg works for Audubon Great Lakes in Chicago, Illinois. The group protects birds.

Kasberg is a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma which is a Native American tribe. They greatly

By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.24.19Word Count 535Level 740L

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appreciate turkeys. Kasberg knows a lot about these birds that don't get enough respect.

Some people just see turkeys as big, clumsy birds with a funny face and a silly gobble. Kasberg said

his community has a different view. They see turkeys as very social and talkative creatures that

other animals depend on.

"Anything with sharp teeth and claws really wants to eat these birds," Kasberg said.

Turkeys Can Fly - If They Feel Like It

Turkey predators include hawks, coyotes, foxes and wolves. Other attackers include raccoons and

opossums. They like to eat turkey eggs and chicks, which are called poults. Animals like to eat

turkeys for a number of reasons, Kasberg said. One reason is that they are big.

"They have a lot of meat on them, they are fairly slow-

moving, and they're on the ground most of the time,"

Kasberg said.

However, wild turkeys can fly if they need to, Kasberg

said.

They cannot fly for a long time, but they can fly away

and escape predators, he said. They usually sleep on

the top of trees.

Turkeys Speak Many Languages

Turkeys make a gobble sound. They can also make

about 28 other sounds to talk to the other turkeys in their flock. The flock usually includes grown

female turkeys and their babies.

Since everything wants to eat them, a turkey flock will cluck, coo and gobble to check on one

another. The sounds let others know about any danger. The adult birds can get angry if they or

their babies are trapped.

Here is another fun fact. Male turkeys are called toms. They have bald heads with all kinds of

dangling skin flaps and pieces. These parts are known as the snood, the wattle and caruncles.

When the birds get excited, these funny bits can change color. They go from white or blue to bright

red. They might also help to keep the turkey cool.

So on Thanksgiving, before you start your feast, wait for a moment. Think about the bird on your

table and where it comes from. Turkeys are meaty dinners to many of us. However, out in the wild,

they are providers and survivors, with their wattles, gobbles and all.

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Quiz

1 How is the author's point of view similar to Bradforf Kasberg's point of view?

(A) They both suggest that turkeys should be appreciated by people.

(B) They both believe that people should avoid eating turkey.

(C) They both see turkeys as big, clumsy birds with funny faces.

(D) They both think turkey is an excellent choice for Thanksgiving meals.

2 With which statement would Bradford Kasberg MOST likely agree?

(A) Turkeys cannot fly because of their large size.

(B) Turkeys are actually very social creatures.

(C) Turkeys mainly live near Chicago, Illinois.

(D) Turkeys have very few natural predators.

3 Which detail shows how turkeys communicate with each other?

(A) In Mexico, there is a species of turkey known as the ocellated turkey. Its feathers shimmer orange andturquoise.

(B) They cannot fly for a long time, but they can fly away and escape predators, he said. They usually sleepon the top of trees.

(C) Since everything wants to eat them, a turkey flock will cluck, coo and gobble to check on one another.The sounds let others know about any danger.

(D) Male turkeys are called toms. They have bald heads with all kinds of dangling skin flaps and pieces.

4 Which sentence supports the idea that turkeys have lived on Earth for a long time?

(A) This means many people will be thinking about turkey.

(B) Most of the turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving come from farms.

(C) Wild turkeys still live across North America.

(D) Turkeys have been around for about 5 million years.