Page 26 - Turkey Book from Meathead

his is a New World bird—Europeans came late to the
party. The main varieties of turkeys raised domestically are thought to descend from a bird, Meleagris gallopavo, raised in central Mexico almost 2,000 years ago. It was then exported to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century. The name “turkey” came about as a mistake relating to a totally dierent breed of poultry imported to Europe from the country of Turkey. Most European languages get closer to the true Latin name: In Spanish, turkey is “pavo,” while “gallo” means rooster in Italian.
T SYEKRUT CITSEMOD NOMMOC