Wild turkeys do indeed build nests as a crucial part of their reproductive cycle. These nests are not elaborate structures perched in trees, but rather subtle ground-level constructions. Understanding their nesting habits offers insight into the behaviors of these North American birds. Their approach to nest building and location selection highlights their adaptability. This process begins with careful site selection and culminates in the hatching of their young, known as poults.
What is a Turkey Nest?
A wild turkey nest is a simple, shallow depression created by the hen directly on the ground. She scrapes out a bowl-shaped hollow, about 1 inch deep and 8 to 13 inches across. This rudimentary nest is often lined with readily available natural materials such as dead leaves, grasses, pine needles, and small twigs from the immediate surroundings. The design emphasizes camouflage, blending with the environment to help conceal the eggs from predators.
Where Turkeys Choose to Nest
Wild turkey hens are selective when choosing a nesting site, prioritizing concealment and protection from predators. They build nests in areas offering dense cover, such as thickets, brush piles, tall grasses, or beneath the branches of fallen trees. These locations provide both overhead protection and lateral cover, allowing the hen to remain hidden while incubating. Hens often prefer sites near the edge of woodlands or near an opening, which allows for good visibility while maintaining safety. While proximity to water or food sources can be a factor, the primary consideration for a nesting hen remains security and camouflage.
The Nesting Process: From Egg to Poults
Once a suitable nest site is established, the hen begins laying her clutch of eggs, one egg every 24 to 32 hours. A full clutch consists of 10 to 12 eggs, though it can range from 4 to 17. These eggs are creamy or pale yellowish-tan, speckled with reddish-brown or pinkish spots. The hen does not begin continuous incubation until the entire clutch has been laid, ensuring all poults hatch around the same time.
The incubation period lasts 25 to 31 days. During this time, only the hen incubates the eggs, rarely leaving the nest for short periods to feed. Newly hatched chicks, known as poults, are precocial, meaning they are well-developed and covered with down, capable of walking and foraging shortly after hatching. Poults leave the nest with the hen within 12 to 24 hours of hatching. They remain highly vulnerable to predators and weather during their first few weeks, but can fly short distances by two weeks of age to roost in trees with their mother.