Enjoy Your Roasted Huexolotlin Today

That is their original Aztec name, where they had been domesticated for centuries before the Spanish invasion. They were brought to Europe from Mexico by the Spaniards in the 16th Century. The birds eventually made it to the Ottoman Empire, where they were known ans "indis" and were raised on farms. Once grown, they were exported to western Europe where, at least in Britain, they became known as "turkeys".

Those live turkeys were then brought back to New England to provide the settlers with a taste of home. Then they were bred with the local varieties and, of course, selective breeding over the centuries have resulted in a bird that is far removed from either the native North America turkeys or their Aztec cousins.

But they are good eating, nonetheless.

Happy Thanksgiving.