Quick Take
- This turkey's slide descent suggests it's done this before. Who taught it?
- The bird didn't just stumble down. Something it watched in the yard explains why.
- Turkeys have a goofy reputation, but their real nature may surprise you.
- Thanksgiving is days away, yet this turkey has other priorities. Guess where.
Most kids love a good playground slide. Apparently, turkeys aren’t opposed to a little fun, either.
In a hilarious video captured in Quebec, Canada, a curious turkey climbs onto a backyard playset and decides to give the children’s slide a try. And judging by the way the bird handles its trip down, this might not be its first rodeo.
The footage was recorded on November 1 by Mercedez Robillard, who was watching her pet turkeys explore the family’s backyard. One of the birds made its way onto the playset, looked down the green slide, and apparently decided walking back down was overrated.
Instead, the turkey lowered itself onto the slide and took a ride to the bottom.
This Turkey Learned a New Trick From the Kids
According to Robillard, her turkeys have developed a habit of watching what the family does outside, including the children playing on their backyard slide.
“They are very curious, they watch everything we do outside,” Robillard told Storyful. She explained that the birds would sit and watch her children slide before eventually trying it themselves.
That makes the footage even better. Rather than a turkey accidentally tumbling down a slippery surface, this bird appears to be intentionally following an activity it has watched the children enjoy.
Of course, we can’t know exactly what the turkey was thinking. But there’s something pretty funny about watching a bird approach playground equipment as though it’s just another member of the family waiting for a turn.
Turkeys Are More Curious Than You Might Think
Turkeys have a reputation for being a little goofy, but they’re surprisingly observant animals. They explore their surroundings, investigate unfamiliar objects, and can learn from repeated experiences.
Domestic turkeys, particularly those accustomed to being around people, may become comfortable exploring objects and activities in their environment. That doesn’t necessarily mean they understand a playground slide the way a child does, but it does help explain why a curious bird might investigate one.
And in this case, the turkey had a pretty good example to follow.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the timing of this video couldn’t be better. While most people are thinking about what’s going on the dinner table, this particular turkey seems much more interested in what’s happening on the playground.
And frankly, we can’t blame it.
