Today?s turkey serves up more pounds to go around, but it?s not the same bird the Pilgrims ate or that Benjamin Franklin wanted as our national bird.

“Turkeys in the days of the Pilgrims were similar to the wild turkeys that are now abundant in most states of the nation. They have dark plumage and can fly,” said University of Maryland professor Nickolas Zimmermann.

Recommended Stories

Waiting in the wings to dine out smoke-free

Harbor museum brings healthy-living lessons to children

Researchers work to help blue crabs