The sound of a turkey gobbling is a deeply familiar noise, often associated with the breeding season or early spring mornings. This loud, rolling vocalization is one of the most distinctive calls in the wild, frequently leading to questions about which bird produces it. The answer reveals a clear division of vocal labor between the male and female of the species.
The Gobbler: Identifying the Source of the Sound
The thunderous, rattling gobble is almost exclusively the domain of the adult male turkey, commonly known as a tom or gobbler. This advertisement call is primarily used during the breeding season to attract female turkeys, or hens, over long distances. The powerful sound can carry for more than a mile, announcing the male’s location and readiness to breed.
The gobble also serves to assert dominance and establish territory among competing males. It is a rapid, descending jumble of sound that can last up to two seconds. The call is often stimulated by loud environmental noises like an owl hoot or a crow call.
This loud vocalization is produced deep within the bird’s chest, specifically from the syrinx, the avian equivalent of a voice box. The syrinx is located where the trachea splits into the lungs, allowing the bird to utilize a high percentage of air to create immense volume. While hens occasionally make a choppy, higher-pitched version, the classic gobble remains the standard call of the tom.
A Turkey’s Full Vocabulary
While the male’s gobble is the most recognizable, the female hen possesses a much broader repertoire of sounds for daily social interaction. The hen’s main call is the yelp, a series of two to ten notes that serves as a general locator call or signals she is receptive to mating. The yelp is a basic sound used year-round, conveying location and general flock status.
Hens also use soft, rolling purrs and short, staccato clucks when they are content, such as while feeding or tending to their young. These quiet sounds help maintain flock cohesion and signal contentment to other nearby birds. A sharp, single-note vocalization known as a putt is used specifically as an alarm to warn the flock of immediate danger.
The turkey’s vocabulary includes other specialized sounds. The cackle is an irregular series of notes made as a bird flies up to or down from a roosting tree. Young turkeys, or poults, use a high-pitched call called a kee-kee when they are lost and attempting to reassemble with the flock.