Turkeys

Turkeys are also members of the sedentary pheasant family. Meleagris gallopavo descended from ancestors that once ranged through North America and Asia. The modern colossal turkey dates from 1927–1930, when a breeder in British Columbia developed a 40 lb/18 kg bird with oversized flight and thigh muscles, and breeders in the U.S. northwest used his stock to perfect the Broad-Breasted Bronze. The little-used breast muscle is tender, mild, and lean; the leg muscles that support the breast are well-exercised, dark, and flavorful.