Queen Of Turkeys Reached Family Meeting In Farm

Turkey, either of two species of birds classified as members of either the family Phasianidae or Meleagrididae (order Galliformes). The best known is the common turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), a native game bird of North America that has been widely domesticated for the table. The other species is Agriocharis (or Meleagris) ocellata, the ocellated turkey. For unrelated but similar birds, see bustard (Australian turkey), megapode (brush turkey), and snakebird (water turkey).

Domestication of the common turkey was probably begun by the Indians of pre-Columbian Mexico. The birds were first taken to Spain about 1519, and from Spain they spread throughout Europe, reaching England in 1541. When the bird became popular in England, the name turkey-cock, formerly used for the guinea fowl of Islamic (or “Turkish”) lands, was transferred to it. English colonists then introduced European-bred strains of the turkey to eastern North America in the 17th century. Turkeys were mainly bred for their beautifully coloured plumage until about 1935, after which the breeding emphasis changed to their meat qualities.

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) evolved more than 11 million years ago. Turkeys are a type of game bird and belong to the scientific bird family Phasianidae. While our familiar wild turkeys only have one close relative, the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), they are distant cousins to other game birds, including pheasants, quail, grouse, and partridges. Today, five distinct subspecies of wild turkey have evolved, all of which have slightly different plumages and ranges.