Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Title
IDENTIFICATION OF TURKEY BREAST BONES
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
May 2006
Abstract
Height and shape of keel differ in domestic and wild turkeys.
Wild birds typically have a dip in the keel and no drastic slope
change after the dip. The distance from the lip on the
upper edge of the sternum to the tip of the cranial end of the keel is obviously greater in wild than
domestic birds. Note that not only the distance
between the arrows differs in the
figure above, but also the
curvature of the slope. Breadth of the keel is greater on
domestic birds, but the height of the keel is greater on wild toms.
The dorsal lateral process is
larger on wild birds. Tip of keel
is not calcified on store-bought
birds. Note the lip on the top edge of
the sternum in domestic birds.
Again, the width of the keel is
much greater on domestic
turkeys.
In cludes illustrations of wild toms vs. domestic toms and wild hens vs. domestic hens (bones).
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Publication of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.