Female turkeys, known as hens, use a diverse range of calls to communicate various messages throughout their lives, from attracting mates to warning their offspring of danger.
Vocal Repertoire of Hens
Hens produce several distinct sounds. The “cluck” is a short, single-note sound, often repeated, and serves as a basic contact call. A “purr” is a soft, rolling, almost trilling sound, typically made when turkeys are relaxed or feeding.
Hens commonly use various forms of “yelps,” which are series of single-note vocalizations. A “plain yelp” usually consists of two to eight notes, indicating location or seeking contact. The “tree yelp” is a softer, muffled yelp, used early in the morning while turkeys are on their roost. When agitated or seeking companionship, hens may produce “cutting,” which involves loud, sharp, and erratic clucks.
A “cackle” is a rapid, irregular series of notes, often heard when a turkey flies down from a roost or across an obstacle. The “putt” is a single, sharp, staccato note used as an alarm.
Communication Through Calls
Hens use their diverse vocalizations for specific communicative purposes. Yelps are broadly used for communication, with plain yelps signaling location and readiness to breed. A series of loud yelps, known as an “assembly yelp,” helps hens gather their flock or young poults, particularly in the fall. Hens also use a “lost yelp” if they become separated from their group, which is a longer, more urgent series of notes compared to a plain yelp.
Soft clucks and purrs are common between hens and their young or within a feeding flock, conveying contentment and maintaining contact. The cluck can also serve to get another turkey’s attention or reassure an approaching male that a hen is waiting. When a hen senses danger, she will emit a sharp “putt” to alert other turkeys or signal to a potential threat that it has been detected. The “fly-down cackle” indicates a hen is descending from her roost, often accompanied by wing beats to add realism.
Differences from Male Turkey Sounds
The vocalizations of female turkeys differ considerably from those of male turkeys, often called toms or gobblers. The most recognizable distinction is the “gobble” itself, which is almost exclusively made by male turkeys. This loud, rapid, gurgling sound is primarily used by toms during the spring breeding season to attract hens and assert dominance. While rare, some hens can produce a “sloppy” gobble, typically due to hormonal imbalances or in highly aggressive situations.
Hens generally produce higher-pitched and less resonant calls compared to males. While both sexes can yelp, a gobbler’s yelp is typically deeper, coarser, and slower-paced than a hen’s. Toms also use different calls, such as the “spit and drum,” a low-frequency sound produced during their strutting display. Hen calls like the cluck, purr, yelp, cackle, and putt form the core of female turkey communication, which contrasts with the male’s primary focus on the attention-grabbing gobble.