Turkey

The Domesticated Turkey, is a large poultry bird raised for food. The modern domesticated turkey descends from the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), one of the two species of turkey (genus Meleagris); however, in the past the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) was also domesticated. Despite the name, turkeys have no relation to the country of Turkey and are native to North America.

The turkey is reared throughout temperate parts of the world, and is a popular form of poultry, partially because industrialized farming has made it very cheap for the amount of meat it produces. The female domesticated turkey is referred to as a hen and the chick as a poult. In the United States, the male is referred to as a tom, whilst in Europe, the male is a stag. The average lifespan for a domesticated turkey is 10 years.

Turkeys are commonly consumed as food by humans, farmed for its meat and eggs. Though humans have been consuming turkeys for centuries, they are still common and popular in human eateries and in UNSC Food & Drink Dispensers.

Trivia

 * Avery Johnson compared his first encounter with the Flood, in which the rest of his unit was slaughtered, to a turkey dinner.