Apparently, the long feathers at the end of a a raven's wing number 17. These feathers are called pinions.
A crow, OTOH, only has 16 pinions.
So the difference is a matter of a pinion.
Joke Poo: The Tale of the Two Turkeys
There’s a subtle but crucial distinction between a gobbler (male turkey) and a hen (female turkey).
Apparently, a gobbler’s wattle (that fleshy thing hanging from its neck) will always be a shade of vibrant red-orange.
A hen, however, only has a wattle that’s a pale pink.
So the difference is a matter of opinion.
Alright, let’s break down this joke:
Core Elements:
- Subject: Raven vs. Crow (specifically, the number of pinions)
- Premise: A subtle, obscure difference between the two birds.
- Punchline: “A matter of a pinion” – a pun playing on “opinion” and the feather term “pinion”.
Analysis:
The joke relies on the juxtaposition of the scientific detail (number of feathers) with a common idiom (“matter of opinion”). The humor comes from the unexpected connection and the slightly nerdy nature of the trivia. It’s a clever, wordplay-driven joke.
Enrichment & New Humor Generation:
Interesting Tidbit: Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds, known for problem-solving skills and even showing evidence of planning for the future. Crows are also smart, but perhaps not quite as advanced as their raven cousins.
New Joke/Observation:
-
Joke:
Why did the raven get promoted to CEO of the bird corporation?
Because it had the pinion to succeed! (Plus, it could outsmart all the crows.) -
Witty Observation:
“You know, bird watching arguments can get pretty heated. It’s really just a matter of pinion. Of course, I always trust the raven’s judgment – those birds seem to be planning world domination, so they’re probably right about feather counts too.”
-
Amusing ‘Did You Know’:
“Did you know that ornithologists often settle raven/crow disagreements with a rigorous feather count? Forget debating politics, try arguing about the 17th pinion on a raven’s wing! You’ll find out who the real experts are. Or who has the most patience.”
Explanation of the new humor:
- Joke: The first joke carries the “pinion” pun from the original, while adding the detail of raven intelligence to elevate the joke, by explaining WHY the raven could have the pinion.
- Witty Observation: This leverages the intelligence angle and also plays on the seriousness with which some hobbies are pursued, suggesting that feather counting can be as contentious as political debates.
- Did You Know: Highlights the absurdity of focusing on such a minute detail and implies that the pursuit of knowledge can sometimes lead to ridiculous situations, which is humorous in itself.
These new pieces of humor build upon the original joke by incorporating factual information about ravens and crows, while still maintaining the pun-based wordplay and subtle, intellectual humor of the original.