It’s Thanksgiving here in the U.S. — a day we set aside to appreciate all that we have, watch football, and eat a huge feast. While regional differences do exist, the typical Thanksgiving meal consists of mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, wild rice, yams, green bean casserole, fresh rolls, and of course … turkey.
Because I’m a fan of flying, the upcoming holiday made me wonder if turkeys can fly. They have wings, right? They just don’t seem flightworthy.
Obviously, having wings doesn’t mean something can fly. Look at ostriches or penguins. And domestic turkeys, sadly, cannot fly; they’re just too heavy. Wild turkeys, however, can take flight, contrary to popular myth.
Turkey Flight Facts
- They roost in trees, so they fly up to their nests. This protects them from predators.
- They can reach top flight speeds of 55 m.p.h.
- Although they can fly, turkeys prefer to stay on the ground.
Have you ever seen a wild turkey glide through the sky, high above? They do live in every one of the 48 contiguous states, so it’s definitely possible to see turkeys, no matter where you live in the U.S. However, turkeys don’t really glide when they fly. They take off straight up, more like a helicopter than an airplane. And if they do fly laterally, turkeys stay close to the ground.
This Thanksgiving, enjoy your turkey and your holiday! Now you have a little turkey trivia for the kids’ table!