fleshy wattle AKA a snood
Meet the turkey, a magnificent bird native to North America! This isn't just any bird; it's a member of the Meleagris family, boasting two surviving species. First, there's the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), strutting its stuff across eastern and central North America. Then, far to the south, you'll find the vibrant ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) gracing the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.
One of the most distinctive features you'll notice, especially on the males of both species, is that intriguing fleshy wattle dangling from the top of their beak—a snood. These impressive birds are among the largest in their natural habitats. And just like many other large ground-feeding birds, the male is a true showstopper, significantly bigger and far more colorful than his female counterpart.
Two Turkey Sandwiches Loaded on Rolls
Filomena's Market | Costa Mesa, CA
17th Street Deli | Costa Mesa, CA
Give him the bird
Columbian Exchange
Nicolas Hüet -Male Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) SITE
This story of the turkey begins right here in North America, where the wild turkey roamed freely. Long before European explorers ever set foot on these shores, Indigenous peoples had already recognized the potential of this impressive bird and successfully domesticated it.
But how did this distinctly American bird get its distinctly un-American name? Well, after its domestication, the turkey embarked on an incredible journey. It became part of the Columbian Exchange, a vast transfer of plants, animals, culture, and ideas between the Old and New Worlds. This is how our domesticated turkey eventually made its way across the Atlantic to Eurasia.
Now, for the name "turkey." It's a bit of a linguistic mystery! The most popular theory is that when these birds arrived in Britain, they did so on Spanish ships that had come from the Turkish Levant. Naturally, the British, seeing these exotic birds arriving from that region, simply associated them with "Turkey" the country.
However, there's a fascinating alternative theory. It suggests the name "turkey" actually belonged to a different bird entirely at first: the guinea fowl from Madagascar. These birds had also been introduced to England by Turkish traders. So, it's possible that when English colonists encountered the similar-looking New World bird, they simply transferred the familiar "turkey" name to their new feathered friend. Either way, it's a testament to the fascinating global journey of this iconic bird!
Deli Style Turkey
Sherman's Deli | Palm Springs, CA
The Butchery | Crystal Cove, CA
A visit to the met
A Few Turkeys
Jean-François Millet
Autumn Landscape with a Flock of Turkeys, 1872–73
Oil on canvas | The MET 17.120.209
Jean-François Millet's "Autumn Landscape with a Flock of Turkeys," painted between 1872 and 1873, is an oil on canvas housed at The Met. The composition centers on a solitary, almost bare tree on a distant hillock. In the foreground, a woman, viewed from behind, is depicted with several turkeys. A village is visible in the background on a lower plane, with the distinctive tower of Chailly-en-Bière faintly discernible. This rural scene, near Barbizon where Millet resided, captures a quiet moment in nature, reflecting Millet's characteristic focus on the everyday lives and landscapes of the French countryside.
Warming his Hands
Francis William Edmonds
Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys), 1851
Oil on canvas | The MET 2016.797.19
Born in Hudson, NY, Francis W. Edmonds uniquely balanced influential careers in art and business, significantly impacting New York City's banking, political, and cultural scenes. A consistent exhibitor at the National Academy of Design, Edmonds was renowned for his genre paintings, often inspired by 17th-century Dutch art.
His work, "Preparing for Christmas," depicts a seasonal farm activity. Two white men diligently pluck turkeys, unfazed by the cold, while a younger Black figure between them appears distracted, warming his hands. Created in the 1850s amidst national debates on slavery, Edmonds's portrayal of African Americans, though often humorous, occasionally showed more empathy. However, despite his Quaker education and potential abolitionist leanings, this painting seems to highlight the Black character's apparent idleness compared to the white workers. The American Art-Union featured this piece in its 1852 auction.
The OG Fowl
Short, Explosive Flights
The guinea fowl, particularly the Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris), is a fascinating bird primarily native to Africa, but with naturalized populations also found on Madagascar. These robust, chicken-like birds are easily recognized by their distinctive gray-black plumage speckled with white "pearls," and their unfeathered heads often adorned with a bony casque or colorful wattles. Highly social, they typically live in flocks and are known for their loud, sharp calls, which serve as an excellent alarm system for other farm animals. While capable of short, explosive flights, guinea fowl are primarily terrestrial, preferring to run swiftly from danger. Historically, they were introduced to Europe by Turkish traders, which contributed to the theory of how the American turkey got its name.
Birds of paradise
Get Your Bird On - Buy the book
Get Your Bird On - Buy the book
Get Your Bird On - Buy the book
John James Audubon - Birds of America
Celebrated Achievement
The two images above reminded me of John James Audubon (born Jean-Jacques Rabin; April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851), a self-taught American artist, naturalist, and ornithologist. Driven by his passion for both art and birdlife, Audubon set out to create a comprehensive visual record of all the bird species in North America. He became renowned for his in-depth studies and lifelike illustrations that portrayed birds in their natural environments. His most celebrated achievement, The Birds of America (1827–1839), is widely regarded as one of the greatest ornithological works ever produced. He also identified 25 bird species previously unknown to science.
This seem like a good place to show you Images of Turkey sandwiches
Benjie's Deli | Santa Ana, CA
El Gaucho Market | Fullerton, CA
Champagne Market
Newport Beach, CA
Hollingshead Deli | Orange, CA
Minute King | Newport Beach, CA
closed
Jersey Mike's | Laguna Beach, CA
Oh Those Donuts | Costa Mesa, CA
closed
Hyatt Newporter Oasis Pool Bar
Newport Beach, CA
Minute King | Newport Beach, CA
closed
Scottish Wild Turkey
Game Bird
The Famous Grouse is a blended Scotch whisky originally created by Matthew Gloag & Son in 1896 and now owned and produced by The Edrington Group. The blend features single malts from Edrington’s own Highland Park and The Macallan distilleries. Its logo features the red grouse, Scotland’s national game bird. Since 1980, it has held the title of Scotland’s best-selling whisky. Positioned as a standard-priced blend, it competes with brands like Bell’s, Teacher’s, and Grant’s in the UK market. A significant portion of its sales occur during the Christmas season.
American's Famous Grouse
American Whiskey Trail
Wild Turkey is a renowned brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., a division of Campari Group. Its distillery is nestled near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, a region celebrated for its rich bourbon heritage. The Wild Turkey distillery is a popular destination for whiskey enthusiasts, offering tours that provide an insightful look into the bourbon-making process, from grain to bottle.
Beyond its individual tours, the Wild Turkey distillery holds the distinct honor of being a key stop on two significant routes for whiskey aficionados: the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the American Whiskey Trail.
The American Whiskey Trail is a broader, national initiative that connects historic distilleries, museums, and other cultural sites across various states, showcasing the rich history and cultural impact of American whiskey. It's a comprehensive journey that goes beyond just bourbon, encompassing rye, Tennessee whiskey, and other distinct American whiskey styles. The American Whiskey Trail aims to educate visitors on the craft, heritage, and economic significance of whiskey production in the United States. By including Wild Turkey, the Trail highlights a major player in the bourbon world, representing the classic Kentucky straight bourbon tradition within this wider narrative of American distilling. Visitors on the American Whiskey Trail can experience firsthand the diverse regional differences and historical developments that have shaped American whiskey into what it is today.
Class up your drinking habit
Bird of Courage
Frankly Speaking
Let's Clear up the story.... Benjamin Franklin once said “I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a Red Coat on.” Have a read