The distinctive sound of a gobble is often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about turkeys. This loud and resonant vocalization is widely recognized, leading many to assume it is the universal call for all turkeys. However, the diverse world of turkey communication extends far beyond this single sound, encompassing a variety of calls with different meanings and purposes. Understanding these varied vocalizations reveals that not all turkeys produce the iconic gobble.
Gobbling Turkeys Identified
The gobble is primarily a sound of male wild turkeys, often called toms. This loud, rapid, and gurgling sound serves as their signature call. While male turkeys are the main gobblers, hens (female turkeys) are sometimes reported to gobble, though their sound tends to be choppier and higher-pitched, similar to a juvenile male turkey’s gobble. Domestic turkeys, both male and female, can also produce gobbling sounds.
Why Turkeys Gobble
Male turkeys primarily gobble to attract hens during the spring breeding season, signaling their availability and location. Gobbling also serves to assert dominance within the turkey hierarchy, allowing males to establish their place and deter competing males. A gobble can travel hundreds of meters, making it an effective long-distance signal.
Turkeys may also gobble in response to various environmental stimuli, a phenomenon known as “shock gobbling.” Loud noises such as thunder, crow calls, owl hoots, or even human-made sounds like slamming car doors can trigger a gobble. This reactive gobbling allows turkeys to signal their location and react to unexpected changes in their surroundings. Male turkeys can gobble year-round, though the frequency peaks during the spring mating season.
A Range of Turkey Sounds
Beyond the gobble, turkeys utilize a complex array of vocalizations to communicate. Both male and female turkeys produce clucks, which are short, one-note calls used to gain attention or indicate location. A soft cluck combined with a light purr can signal contentment or a relaxed mood, often heard when turkeys are feeding. Purring is a soft, rolling sound, also used by hens with their young. Aggressive purring can occur when turkeys are agitated or vying for dominance.
Yelps are another common turkey sound, primarily used by hens as locator calls or to signal readiness to breed. There are variations such as the “tree yelp,” a soft, muffled call made by roosted birds communicating within their flock, and the “assembly yelp,” a series of loud yelps used by a hen to gather her flock or poults. Young turkeys also make a high-pitched whistling sound called a “kee-kee” when they are lost and seeking to regroup.
Turkeys also emit sharper, more urgent sounds like “putts” and “cutts.” A putt is a single, sharp note that signals alarm or danger. In contrast, “cutting” involves an intense series of loud, erratic clucks, often made by agitated hens seeking companionship or expressing excitement. Lastly, a “cackle” is a series of irregularly spaced notes associated with movement, such as flying up to or down from a roost.