Norfolk Black Turkey

     The Norfolk Black, or the Black, is an old breed of domestic Turkeys, that originated in Europe. In fact, it might be the oldest known turkey breed ever, as it’s a direct descendant of the Wild Mexican Turkeys, that have been carried home with explorers in the 1500s. Norfolk Blacks became popular in Spain where they were known as the ‘Black Spanish’, and in England, especially in the Norfolk region where they were known as ‘Norfolk Blacks’, and hence comes the name.

     After being selected for meat production for more than two centuries, the Black Turkey made the voyage back to the Americas, with early European colonists. Later, they were crossed with the Wild Turkey to help produce breeds such as the Bronze, the Narragansett, and the  Slate Turkey.

    The Norfolk Black Turkey remained a commercially farmed variety in the USA, until the beginning of the 20^th century. After that, its number declined, due to the adoption of more productive breeds such as the Bronze and the Broad Breasted White Turkeys. The Norfolk Black is a distinctive bird, with its lustrous, metallic black plumage, that make it a handsome and beautiful turkey indeed.