Turkeys are the mainstay of our Thanksgiving feast. Maybe it’s their awkward gait, the wobbly red wattles under their necks, or the strange sounds they make, but turkeys have gained a reputation for being stupid creatures. Some people even use the word “turkey” to mean inept or stupid.

Perhaps the “dumb bird” reputation is the reason behind the tale that during a rainstorm, turkeys will stare up at the sky with their beaks hanging open, transfixed, until they drown. Although turkeys sometimes do tilt their heads up at the sky and remain there for several moments, scientists say the idea that turkeys drown that way is just a myth.