3 Weird Things Many Illinoisans Don’t Know About Turkeys

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and as we prepare to feast on those delicious turkeys, let's dive into some weird and wonderful facts about these birds.

Thanksgiving Season in Illinois

Every year when the calendar flips to November 1, some people waste zero time putting up all their Christmas finery, while others replace the ghosts and witches with turkeys and cornucopias.

Unfortunately, I am the turkey and cornucopia kind of girl ONLY because my husband loves Thanksgiving, so I try to be respectful and not skip over his favorite holiday. I also like to impress my husband with amazing turkey facts each Thanksgiving, and here are three that I am going with this year.

Weird Facts About Turkeys

On my mission to find some little known turkey facts, I came across these three surprising things...

Fact #1: Wild Turkeys CAN Fly

You might think of turkeys as big, clumsy birds that waddle around, but think again! Wild turkeys can fly short distances at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, they can also glide for almost a mile without ever flapping their wings!

Fact #2: Male and Female Turkeys Poop Different Shapes

The size of a turkey and the color of its feathers are the only ways to tell the gender of a turkey...looking at their poop will too. Male turkeys produce larger droppings that are shaped like a "J", and female turkeys produce smaller, spiral-shaped droppings.

Fact #3 You Can Tell the Gender and Age of a Turkey by Taste

This one surprised me, but you female turkeys, or hens, tend to have a more tender and flavorful meat, while male turkeys, or toms, have a coarser texture. Young turkeys also have a more delicate flavor, while older turkeys have a stronger, more robust taste. Basically, if your Thanksgiving turkey is smaller, juicy and flavorful, there's a good chance you're eating a young hen.

I hope you gobble 'til you wobble this Thanksgiving and that your family is impressed by all your newfound turkey knowledge. LOL!