Thanksgiving: Barack Obama pardons Cobbler the turkey

President Barack Obama has carried out the traditional Thanksgiving presidential duty of pardoning a turkey.

Since taking office he has created his own custom of sparing an extra turkey, but denoting one of the two the "official" Thanksgiving bird.

This year, the White House held a popular vote for the "official spot" on Facebook between Cobbler and Gobbler, two 19-week-old turkeys. Cobbler received the honour.

The birds will live at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate in Virginia, alongside last year's birds, Liberty and Peace.