The wishbone, a Y-shaped bone commonly recognized in poultry like chickens and turkeys, is often associated with holiday traditions. While its presence is widely known, its precise location and biological significance may not be as clear to many.
Locating the Wishbone on a Bird
The wishbone is situated at the front of a bird’s breast, nestled between the neck and the main breast meat. To locate it, position a raw bird breast-side up. Feeling into the neck cavity, the V-shaped bone can be identified above the sternum.
What the Wishbone Is
Scientifically, the wishbone is known as the furcula, a term derived from the Latin word for “little fork.” It is a unique skeletal structure formed by the fusion of the bird’s two clavicles, which are equivalent to the collarbones in mammals. This V-shaped or Y-shaped bone plays a significant role in avian flight.
The furcula functions as a strut between the bird’s shoulders, providing structural support to the thoracic skeleton and helping to withstand the stresses of wing movements.
Beyond its structural support, the furcula also acts like a spring during flight. As the bird flaps its wings downward, the furcula expands, storing energy from the contracting breast muscles. This stored energy is then released as the furcula snaps back, aiding in the upward movement of the wings and contributing to the efficiency of flight. The furcula also forms part of a canal housing a tendon that lifts the wings during the recovery stroke.
The Wishing Tradition
The tradition of breaking the wishbone for good luck has a long history, tracing its origins back to the ancient Etruscans, an Italian civilization that predated the Romans. The Etruscans believed birds possessed prophetic powers and would dry the wishbone, then known as the furcula, after slaughtering a chicken. People would stroke the dried bone while making wishes, associating it with good fortune.
When the Romans encountered the Etruscan custom, they adopted it, and the practice evolved from stroking the bone to breaking it. The Romans would grapple over the wishbone, with the person securing the larger piece believed to have their wish granted.
This tradition was then carried to England and eventually to the New World by settlers, where it became associated with turkeys due to their abundance. Today, the practice continues, with two individuals pulling on either end of the dried wishbone, and the one with the larger piece traditionally getting their wish fulfilled.