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STANDARDS
CCSS: 6.EE.A.2.C, 7.EE.B.3, MP1, MP6
TEKS: 6.3D, 6.7D, 7.3A, 7.3B
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By the Numbers: Let's Talk Turkey!
Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock.com
The turkey is one of the most well-known birds native to North America. Before Europeans arrived, an estimated 10 million turkeys roamed the continent. But by the 1950s, the birds were almost extinct due to overhunting and habitat loss. Conservationists stepped in to help, and today wild turkey populations are booming.
Wild turkeys are different from the domesticated species that may end up on your Thanksgiving plate. The biggest difference is the color: Wild turkeys are shades of brown, while domesticated turkeys are white.
Continue reading to find out more fun facts about turkeys. Then plug in the numbers to solve the equation below to learn one final fact!
25
Donald M. Jones/Minden
Speed, in miles per hour, the average turkey can run
46
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
Number, in millions, of turkeys eaten each Thanksgiving!
4,000
Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage
Approximate number of white turkey feathers used to make Big Bird’s costume. They’re dyed yellow!
2
Number of stomachs a turkey has: A glandular stomach (2) softens the food with stomach acids, and a gizzard (1) grinds up the food so the intestines can absorb it.
Max Filitov/Shutterstock.com (Animated Turkey)