Thanksgiving is meant to be a time of gratitude, yet, tragically, the holiday in the United States - and Christmas in the United Kingdom and many other countries - has come to be marked by the slaughter of turkeys as the centerpiece of the celebration; each year, over 46 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. alone for Thanksgiving — an outdated, unnecessary, and cruel tradition. Turkeys are sensitive, brilliant, social beings. We want you to know more about these wonderful birds.

Here are some fascinating facts about turkeys:

• Flying and Social Behavior: Wild turkeys are strong fliers, capable of speeds of 55 mph. When feeling safe with a human, they are affectionate and playful, some enjoy being pet under their wings or stroked on their heads.
• Changing Colors: Male turkeys' heads change color to reflect their moods — often red when courting or stressed, blue when excited, and pale or mixed colors when threatened. While female turkeys also experience color changes, they are less pronounced. These color shifts help turkeys communicate with each other.
• Complex Communication: Turkeys have over 28 vocalizations and adjust their intensity and delivery to express different meanings. They can also recognize each other and over 30 human faces.
• Purring: Many turkeys, like cats, purr when they're feeding or content.
• Excellent Vision: With eyes three times more sensitive to light than humans, turkeys have a 270-degree field of view and can detect motion from far away. Their ability to see UVA light helps them with foraging and predator detection, while head-bobbing helps stabilize their gaze to judge distances and depths.

Tragically, turkeys are selectively bred to grow unnaturally large and fast, leading to painful physical deformities, heart attacks, broken bones, and early death. Ninety-nine percent are kept in extreme confinement, with no sunlight, for their entire short lives and subjected to painful mutilations, including beak and talon cutting. Turkeys in the wild live up to four years, while those bred for meat products grow so large they can't even perch to fly and are slaughtered at just 12 to 19 weeks. 

Like all animals, turkeys experience various emotions and can form strong bonds with each other, humans, and other animals. Most importantly, they feel pain and fear and want to live. Deprived of their flying abilities and freedom to express themselves, these remarkable individuals suffer horrifically in industries that profit from them. 

For turkeys and all other farmed animals, there is nothing to be thankful for. The breeding, confinement, abuse, and slaughter of these precious beings is an unnecessary atrocity. 

How You Can Help

You can visit turkeys at farm animal sanctuaries, where rescued animals are given a peaceful life, free from exploitation and slaughter. If we can survive and thrive without hurting others, why wouldn’t we?

Watch My Life as a Turkey from PBS’ Nature series, a moving true story of one man’s remarkable experience of raising a group of wild turkey hatchlings to adulthood. Now on YouTube. 

There are several vegan turkey options for Thanksgiving, available at major grocery stores, such as Plant-Based Turkey Roast, Plant-Based Celebration Roast, and Tofurky.

For year-round vegan recipes and meal ideas, get our free Vegan Guide!

Join our Animal Activist Online Support Group on Thanksgiving on Nov. 28.

For free resources and programs for animal advocates during the holidays, join Love and Thrive Through the Holidays.