The Birds of America was a text that provided zoological analysis of birds in the United States. The book was the work of John James Audubon. Audubon was an ornithologist, artist, and naturalist. He combined his love of art and science into a number of books. The illustration of a wild turkey is very detailed. The feathers and its talons depict intricate texture. The turkey is iconic in American culture. The bird is associated with Thanksgiving dinners. The domestic turkey differs from the wild turkey due to the fact they are bred for food subsistence. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey rather than the eagle be a symbol of the United States. There are only two species of turkey. These birds did not evolve for long term flight. The wild turkey can fly short distances. The ocellated turkey is native to parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. The Birds of America was a major contribution to the taxonomy of birds in the United States .
The World History Archive and Compendium 