Every year around Thanksgiving, turkey gets its time to shine. Though it's (unjustly) blamed for making us sleepy and deemed a third-tier poultry by Zooey "traitor" Deschanel, we all know it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without this traditional bird at the center of our table.
But how much do you really know about turkey? Now that we've exposed the tryptophan lies, probably next to nothing. In honor of this Thanksgiving staple, we've put together 10 turkey facts to make you well-informed about everyone's favorite fall bird -- and to get you as excited about this holiday as Nicole Westbrook is.
1
It doesn't make you sleepy.
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No, really. You can't blame tryptophan. (via kimkanyekimye.tumblr.com)
2
Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey chosen as our national bird.
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In a letter to his daughter, he called the turkey a much more 'respectable bird' than the bald eagle. (via inspirethosewhoinspireyou.tumblr.com)
3
They have a snood and a wattle.
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The snood (only in males) is the red growth from the forehead over the bill, and the part underneath the throat is the wattle. (via MakeAGIF.com)
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4
Harry Truman must love turkeys.
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The tradition of the President pardoning a turkey every year started with Harry Truman. (via jesusland.tumblr.com)
5
Turkeys blush.
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The skin on the turkey's neck and head can deepen in color when the animal changes emotions. Essentially, they blush. (via MakeAGIF.com)
6
Lincoln is partly responsible for the Thanksgiving-turkey association.
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Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 -- it is around this time that turkeys became the main event of the Thanksgiving feast. (via befunnyandsmile.tumblr.com)
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7
They're a popular inspiration for city naming.
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Turkey (Texas), Turkey Creek (Louisiana), and Turkey (North Carolina) all pay homage to this bird. (via Tumblr: BELTS && ZIPPERS)
8
They probably didn't eat turkey at the first Thanksgiving.
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The settlers probably feasted on duck, goose or seafood instead. (via footwurk.tumblr.com)
9
Thanksgiving isn't the only holiday for eating turkey.
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45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving -- but 22 million are eaten each Christmas and 19 million are eaten each Easter as well. (via straxthesontaran.tumblr.com)
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10
You can have one as a pet.
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Owners say they are 'affectionate and protective' -- but be careful before running out to buy one, some states prohibit the keeping of wild animals as pets and others require a permit to do so. (via MakeAGIF.com)
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