Turkeys are big Pheasants
 

The going story is that the Turkey got it's name from the early American settlers, of European war with the country "Turkey."

The American settlers remember how it was back in the old country and how the Turks chopped off heads. The Turks wore tassels on the tops of the hats reminiscent, of the bird turkeys tassel from the throat. Thus we have the word turkey and you continue to like to shoot them.
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I've also heard that Ben Franklin wanted the symbol of America to be the Wild Turkey instead of the Eagle. Not sure about the story, but it sounds pretty cool.

that was true

Ol' Ben did make the proposal. But some historians who are familiar with his wirtings, think he actually wrote it in jest, to make fun of the selection of the bald eagle which is a bad tempered bird, with tendencies for thievery and eating carrion.

Don't believe me, about the eagle? Go to Alaska. Bald eagles are attractive looking, but watching them fight with ravens over a half rotted salmon rack and a cheeseburger wrapper or eat mushed pollock guts out of a mud puddle in Dutch kinda dimishes their stature a bit.

Watching turkeys scratch and peck through fresh cowpatties isn't high on the stature list either, but I'm willing to overlook it.

:happy0157:

Gman