SCIENCE IN PICS: Let’s Celebrate the Turkey Day

On Thanksgiving, what are you most grateful for? For some, it is that they aren’t born as turkeys like this one, growing up to be eaten on this day.

The turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is native to North America. This species comprises six subspecies, one of which was bred to become the domestic turkey, and further developed into several breeds to satisfy people’s consumption preferences.

The piece of skin that hangs from the top of the turkey’s head is called the snood, and is similar to a chicken’s comb. During courtship, the male’s snood turns bright red.

Although the domesticated breeds are too heavy to fly or even get on the females’ back to mate, wild turkeys do fly.

Like peacocks, male turkeys display their tail feathers to attract females, as well as puff up their bodies as seen in this video.