Turkeys, most people eat them every year on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other major holidays. However, how much do people really know about turkeys?

The turkey eaten primarily on holidays is the white feathered turkey, mostly because when the white feathered turkeys are plucked their feathers don’t leave unsightly pigment spots on the skin. The turkey was first domesticated by the Aztecs in Mexico and fossil dating dates them to have existed in Texas since approximately 2.5 million years ago. A group of turkeys is called a “rafter,” while a nest of eggs is called a “clutch.”  The male is called a “tom” while the female is called a “hen.” The famous gobbling noise made by turkeys? That’s only made by males, the females cluck. Turkey skins can be tanned and made into items like, cowboy boots, belts, and other accessories.

Each Thanksgiving, about 675 million pounds of turkey consumed in the US. Americans consume and average of 18lbs per capita each year.

Interesting Factoid: Sesame Street’s Big Bird is made of turkey feathers.