Turkeys are indigenous to the New World, where all their fossils have been found. They were domesticated by the Indians in Mexico, from which they were brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadores. They were served as a delicacy to Henry VIII of England. Turkeys show many similarities to pheasants, but have a naked head, rudimentary webs between their toes and their tails are not vaulted. Like the group shown in the next figures, which was composed of 14 birds, they roam about on the ground, in open mixed forests and fields, roosting at night in the trees. They are polygamous and the hens build their nest on the ground, in which the lay 8 to 15 eggs.

Austin Jr, O.L, (1961), Birds of the World, Golden Press, New York, p 98