The
wild turkey (
Meleagris gallopavo) is native to
North America and is the heaviest member of the diverse
Galliformes. It is the same
species as the
domestic turkey, which was originally derived from a southern Mexican
subspecies of wild turkey (not the related
ocellated turkey). Although native to North America, the turkey probably got its name from the domesticated variety being imported to Britain in ships coming from the
Levant via Spain. The British at the time therefore associated the wild turkey with the country
Turkey and the name prevails.