Why does a male turkey have a bunch of black hair on its chest?

A turkey is a turkey. Chicken-like Toxostrongylus-a species of Toxostrongylus. Because the wings are open and the tail is fanned out during estrus, sarcoma and meat flap turn from red to blue and white, so it is also called seven-faced bird (or seven-faced chicken). Native to eastern North America and Central America, it is wild and has been domesticated as a meat bird. Now many countries introduce breeding.

Turkey is a specialty of America and was domesticated by Indians before Europeans came to America. The English name of Turkey is "Turkey". Because Europeans think it looks like Turkish clothing: black head and red body. Europeans like roast goose very much. After immigrating to the United States, there was a requirement to eat geese before raising them, so I ate turkey and found that turkey was more delicious than goose. There are many turkeys in North America. So roast turkey has become a big dish for Americans and an essential food for important festivals.

Chicken-shaped order is a general term for two birds of the family Triticeae. The most famous is the common turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which is native to North America and is a kind of hunting bird. Now it has been widely raised as food. Another spotted turkey. Some unrelated birds in English are also called turkeys, such as Australian turkey, bush turkey and water turkey. See bustard and snake bird.

The domestication of common turkeys probably began with Mexican Indians before Columbus arrived in America. Turkey was first introduced to Spain in 15 19. Introduced to Britain on 154 1. After turkeys were widely raised in Britain, turkey-cock was used to refer to turkeys. Previously, it was used to refer to a kind of poultry from Islamic or Turkic regions. /kloc-in the 0 th and 7 th centuries, British colonists introduced turkey breeds raised in Europe to eastern North America. About 1935 years ago, turkeys were mainly raised to make use of their beautiful feathers. Later, people paid attention to cultivating varieties with good meat quality.

Today, the common turkey subspecies in Mexico are slightly different from those in the southeastern and southwestern United States in feather spots and waist colors, but their feathers are basically black with rainbow bronze and green. Adult men have bare heads and tumors on their skin, which are usually bright red, but turn white and bright blue when excited. Other obvious features of ordinary turkey are a long red fleshy ornament from forehead to beak; There is a drooping throat, and there is a black, rough, hairy feather cluster on the chest, called a moustache, with a protrusion from the foot. Male birds can reach 130cm (50 inches) in length and 10kg (22 pounds) in weight, but their average weight is light. Generally, the weight of a female bird is only half that of a male bird, and the skin tumor and fleshy droop on her head are also small. Domestic breeds have delicious meat and may be heavier.

In many European countries, people have always been used to eating roast turkey at Christmas. In America, people especially like to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. So turkey products are often seasonal. But in the United States and other countries, boneless turkey rolls can be bought all year round and can be cooked at home.

Wild turkeys like to live in waterside woodlands. Eat seeds, insects and occasionally frogs and lizards. When frightened, they can quickly run to a hidden place, but they can also fly short distances (about 0.4 kilometers [0.25 miles]). In the United States, the population was initially reduced because of over-hunting, and now the States have implemented hunting management laws to restore its population.

When courting, the male spreads his tail feathers, hangs down his wings, shakes his feathers, strides with his head down, and makes a quick cackle. A male bird matches a flock of females, and each female gives birth to eight? 15 light brown spotted eggs, which are produced in low-lying places on the ground; The incubation period is 28 days.

Central American spotted turkey is smaller than ordinary turkey; The head is blue, and the fleshy structure from forehead to beak is red and yellow; Feather tips are sharp; Like a peacock; In addition to the sarcophagus under the beak, there is a yellow protrusion on the top of the head. This species has never been domesticated.

biological property

Turkey attracts people's attention because of its large size, fast growth, strong disease resistance and high lean meat rate. It can be compared with broilers and is known as "meat making machine". Turkey is not only tender and light in meat, but also has the advantages of "one high and two low" in nutritional value. One high is the high content of protein, which is above 30%; Erdi is considered as an ideal health food for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases abroad. At the same time, turkey is also a good food for invigorating qi and spleen. At present, many countries in the world use turkey instead of beef, pork, mutton and duck.

Turkey has the characteristics of wild animals, with high protein (protein content is 27%, while common broilers only have 23%), low fat (2-3%) and low cholesterol (0.06-0. 1%). Its meat is tender and delicious. It is a health food for women, children and the elderly, and also an ideal diet food for obese people. Eating turkey often has preventive and therapeutic effects on hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Not only is turkey delicious and of good quality, but turkey eggs are also excellent food. Fire eggs are rich in yellow and good in toughness, belonging to high-quality poultry eggs.

Turkey is 3 ~ 4 times larger than domestic chicken and 800 ~ 1 100 mm long. The male bird is about 1000 mm in height, while the female bird is slightly shorter. The mouth is strong and slightly curved. The head and neck are almost bare, with only sparse feathers and red sarcoma, and a red meat flap hanging from the throat. The back bulges slightly. The body feathers are metallic brown or green with black horizontal spots scattered; White spots on both wings; The tail feathers are brown or gray, with variegated colors and slightly rounded ends. Strong feet and toes.

Strong flying ability, can fly 500 ~ 2000 meters away. They usually live on the ground, cackle and feed on insects, crustaceans, lizards, grains, vegetables and fruits. Gather in the trees at night. 1 More men than women. The bird's nest camped in a hidden recess on the ground. Oviposition twice a year, 8 ~ 15 eggs each time. Female birds hatch eggs, hatch in 28 days, and brood by females.

The whole body is covered with black, white and dark yellow feathers. The upper part of the head and neck is exposed, and there are red coral-like skin tumors and drooping meat under the throat, and the color can change from red to purple. The tail feathers of a male turkey can be fanned out and there is a tuft of hair balls on the chest. The female turkey weighs 8-9 kilograms, and the annual output of turkey eggs is 50-80, each weighing 20-80 grams. At present, the breeding varieties are mostly "bronze turkey" and "white turkey".

Eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a traditional festival in western countries. We have a three-day holiday and get together with our families. At the festival banquet, there is an indispensable special dish-"roast turkey". Why do you eat turkey on Thanksgiving? This starts with the origin of Thanksgiving. 1620, a group of Puritans who advocated reform in Britain withdrew from the state religion and became independent Protestants because their ideals and ambitions could not be realized, which aroused the hatred of British politicians. Unable to bear the persecution and discrimination of the rulers, these Puritans fled to the Netherlands first. In early September, they crossed the ocean and prepared to go into exile in the United States. The ship drifted in the rough sea for 65 days, and finally arrived at the east coast of the United States in 5438+065438+ 10, and landed in Provis Town, Rhode Island. At that time, it was still a desolate virgin land, and wild animals such as turkeys could be seen everywhere. It's cold winter now, and they come to a strange place, lacking clothes and food, and the harsh environment threatens their lives. At this critical moment, the local Indians deprived them of food, daily necessities and production tools, and helped them build their own new homes.

After settling down in their new home, these British people thanked the Indians who helped and supported them in times of crisis, and also thanked God for giving them "gifts". On the fourth Thursday in June, 1 1, the celebration lasted for three days. Since then, such a celebration will be held every year on the fourth Thursday of June165438+1October. In addition to holding roast turkeys for Indians, sports competitions such as archery, running and wrestling will be held together, and at night, we will sing and dance around the bonfire and have fun. 194 1 year, the US Congress officially designated the fourth Thursday in June 1 1 as "Thanksgiving Day". Since then, this festival has become popular in western countries.