Did Benjamin Franklin Really Want a Turkey National Bird?

It's one of America's favorite historical tidbits: Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird instead of the Bald Eagle. It sounds like classic Franklin—contrarian, witty, and a little absurd. But like many good stories, the truth is more complicated.

What Franklin Actually Wrote

The myth traces back to a single letter Franklin wrote to his daughter Sarah Bache in January 1784. The Continental Congress had already chosen the Bald Eagle for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782—two years earlier. Franklin wasn't lobbying for change; he was simply sharing his opinions about the seal's design.

And share he did. Franklin called the eagle "a Bird of bad moral Character" because it steals food from other birds. He wrote that the eagle "does not get his Living honestly" and is "too lazy to fish for himself."

Enter the Turkey

In contrast, Franklin praised the Wild Turkey as "a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America." He noted that while the turkey was "a little vain & silly," it was also courageous—willing to attack British soldiers who invaded farmyards during the Revolutionary War.

But here's the key detail everyone misses: Franklin never proposed changing the national symbol. This was a private letter, not a formal recommendation to Congress. He was critiquing the eagle's moral character, not seriously campaigning for turkey supremacy.

Why the Myth Persists

The story has all the ingredients of a perfect American legend:

• A beloved Founding Father with a reputation for wit
• An unexpected, slightly ridiculous alternative (a turkey!)
• A contrarian stance that feels authentically "Franklin"

It's the kind of anecdote that gets repeated at Thanksgiving dinners, in school classrooms, and on history websites—often without the crucial context that it was a private joke, not a political position.

The Turkey's Actual Resume

Franklin wasn't entirely wrong about the Wild Turkey's credentials. Native to North America, these birds are surprisingly intelligent, can fly up to 55 mph in short bursts, and have excellent eyesight. Early colonists found them abundant and essential for survival.

The Bald Eagle, meanwhile, does engage in kleptoparasitism—stealing prey from other birds. Benjamin Franklin, ever the moralist, found this behavior beneath the dignity of a national symbol.

The Verdict

So did Franklin want the turkey as America's national bird? Not really. He expressed a personal preference in a private letter, written years after the decision was already made. It was more philosophical musing than political lobbying.

But the myth endures because it captures something true about Franklin's character: his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, his appreciation for hard work over theft, and his uniquely American sense of humor. Even if he never seriously campaigned for the turkey, he'd probably appreciate that the story has taken on a life of its own.