Turkey

Indigenous to South America, the turkey is one of the largest birds on earth. Scientifically termed as Meleagris, the turkey has two extant species. 

• The wild turkey(found in North and Central America)

This species of wild turkey has five subspecies, namely: 

• Osceola turkey
• Rio Grande turkey
• Merriam turkey
• Eastern turkey
• Gould turkey

   The second extant group of turkeys is :

• Ocellated turkey( found in Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico) 

All modern-day and domesticated turkeys have descended from the Meleagris gallapavo (wild turkey variety). In the 1900s, wild turkeys were hunted down and their woodland habitats burnt down. This drastically reduced their population and they almost went extinct especially in America. Fortunately, the surviving few were placed in the remaining woodlands to repopulate as a restoration scheme.

What should I know about turkeys? 

Popularly known in many households for being served on tables during festivities like Thanksgiving and Christmas, turkeys are suitable for breeding and keeping as pets. In case you are planning to have one to add to your flock, here are some facts about these birds you should be familiar with:

• Turkeys can fly. Yes! These birds can move through the air though usually for a short distance. Unfortunately, the flight is only limited to wild turkeys as the domestic ones can’t fly. This is due to their excessive weight which is twice the size of wild turkeys. 
• These birds are very agile and can run up to 25 miles per hour. 
• When it comes to gender, male turkeys are called gobblers since they gobble during mating season whereas females go by the name hens. The baby turkeys are known as poults. 
• You can identify a turkey’s gender using its droppings. Females produce short spiral-shaped poop while males produce elongated J-shaped droppings. 
• These magnificent birds can change colors. This is a common phenomenon with their heads where the snood and wattle colors turn from red to blue and are sometimes pale depending on their emotions. 
• The snood (fleshy appendage that extends over the beak) is suitable for finding a mate. Apparently, females prefer males with longer snoods. The length of the snoods can also determine determines who wins the competition among males. 
• Turkeys are omnivorous. They eat berries, seeds, grains, and insects. Each species has its own specific diet that depends on its habitat. 
• The lifespan of a turkey is about ten years. A typical turkey grows to a height of about 122cm with a body length of about 117cm. 
• Turkeys attack when they feel threatened. They are afraid of unfamiliar noises or objects. Males are especially aggressive during the breeding season and will tend to attack when given direct eye contact.
• Turkeys roost in trees despite being located on the ground most times. It is common with wild turkeys as they seek to hide from their predators. This is because they can’t see clearly at night. 

What should I name my turkey? 

Have you been raking your brains trying to think of what name to give your turkey?  If so then you must know turkey naming is a role you will require to perform diligently. The title you give to your turkey will communicate his or her character and your affection for the bird. 

The compilation below consists of name categories that you will find convenient for naming your turkey. 

Famous Turkey Names 

If you want your turkey associated with a famous name then this list will suit your need. 

• Harry 
• Charlie
• Donald
• Meghan
• Serena
• Maya
• Nicky
• Denver
• Kate
• Minaj
• Belcalis
• West
• Smith
• Fella
•  Kimmy
• Kris
• Charlotte
• Riri
• Fenty
• Diana
• Braxton
• Houston 

Good Turkey Names

Looking for a good turkey name? Here are a few:

• Sierra
• Fawn
• Terry
• Ducky
• Clark
• Wonka
• Gil
• Jean
• Dolce
• Garry
• Patrick
• Foxy
• Carl
• Bulk
• Madison
• Masen
• Spike
• Dilan
• Bold

Cute Turkey Names

We all want cute names for our feathered friends. The list below comprises such names. 

• Amber
• Cherry
• Hazel
• Royal
• Sonic
• Coral
• Blue 
• Pebbles
• Peaches
• Koala
• Tawny
• Penny
• Peanut
• Minnie
• Ivory
• Ice
• Angel
• Crystal
• Swan

Best Turkey Names

These include :

• Till
• Turk
• Brisk
• Aspen
• Dona
• Kula
• Deva
• Tinny
• Birdie
• Doula
• Pausha
• Kora 
• Polka
• Rhumba
• Gigi
• Dona
• Tula
• Chin
• Kiran
• Joey
• Frank
• Ben

Male Turkey Names

Below is a variety of names that you could select for your gobbler:

• Larry
• Lenny
• Ben
• Kenny
• Bill
• Roscoe
• Alex
• Douglas
• Danny
• Zeus
• Farah
• Damian
• Toto
• Bata
• Tyron
• Ravi
• Max
• Bolder
• Chavez

Female Turkey Names

If you are rearing a hen, here are a few names to choose from:

• Penda
• Sandy
• Suzy
• Carla
• Pearl
• Vanilla
• Tesla
• Peaches
• Daisy
• Dove
• Alexa
• Brittany
• Cookie
• Tofu
• Martha
• Silla
• Rue
• Bianca
• Chalice

Funny Turkey Names 

You may want to get a funny name for your turkey to reflect his or her character. 

• Drumsticks
• Red neck
• Hen
• Big bird
• Saucy
• Pork chop
• Dinner
• Stew
• Pilgrim
• Stalk
• Beaky
• Long legs
• Egger
• Lunch
• Feathers
• Salmonella
• Butterball
• Peck
• Goblin

Black Turkey Names 

Black is beautiful and so is your turkey if he or she is covered in dark feathers. These are a few name suggestions you could use:  

• Black tie
• Coal
• Inky
• Oreo
• Panther
• Crow
• Diva
• Ace
• Ash
• Choco
• Evie
• Voodoo
• Sai
• Nimbus
• Ebony
• Velvet
• Cola
• Ninja
• Onyx 
• Raven 
• Graphite
• Dot
• Porsha
• Coffee

Bird Turkey Names

You may decide to give your turkey a bird name since it’s actually a bird. These include :

• Zazu
• Griffin
• Shadow
• Rio
• Coco
• Jewel
• Diablo
• Nigel
• Iago
• Heaven
• Sterling 
• Hedwig
• Woodstock 
• Skye
• Fiona
• Daffy
• Astra
• Belle
• Crimson
• Dahlia
• Goldie
• Jett

Disney Turkey Names

Do you fancy Disney animations? If so, you will definitely want your turkey to have the name of the character in one of the films. Here are some famous Disney names:

• Mayor Lurckey
• Red feather 
• Birdzilla
• Saddlessore Swanson
• Musketeers
• Donald
• Huey
• Louie
• Dewey
• Chip
• Della 
• Dale
• Gander

It is evident that turkey names are vast. Therefore, you should carefully select a perfect name for your pet. Although this task may seem to be daunting, in the spirit of loving your pet turkey you will definitely find him or her the most deserving name!