Turkeys are highly vocal birds, known for a wide array of sounds that extend far beyond their recognizable gobble. Their diverse vocalizations play a significant role in their daily lives, facilitating communication within their flocks and territories.
The Famous Gobble
The “gobble” is the most recognized turkey sound, a loud, rapid gurgling lasting one to two seconds. This call is primarily produced by male turkeys (toms). They frequently gobble from elevated positions, such as treetops, as the sound carries more effectively over distance.
The main purpose of the gobble is to attract hens during the breeding season. Toms use this sound to announce their presence to potential mates. It also asserts dominance and establishes territorial claims among competing males. The frequency of gobbling often increases around sunrise.
Beyond the Gobble
Turkeys employ a rich vocabulary of other sounds for various interactions. Clucks are short, abrupt notes, often used for general communication, such as getting another bird’s attention or indicating a turkey’s location. These sounds can also convey contentment, especially when turkeys are feeding.
Purrs are soft, rolling calls, often heard when turkeys are relaxed or feeding, suggesting contentment and helping maintain spatial awareness within a flock. However, purrs can also become aggressive and loud when turkeys are agitated or asserting dominance.
Yelps are a series of single-note vocalizations indicating a bird’s location. Hens commonly use yelps to communicate with toms, especially during mating season, and they can vary in meaning based on their intensity and cadence.
Turkeys use putts, single or multiple sharp notes, primarily as an alarm call to signal danger. These sounds alert other turkeys when a potential threat is sensed.
Young turkeys (poults) produce high-pitched whistling sounds called kee-kees, often when lost and seeking to regroup with their mother or flock members. A “kee-kee run” combines these notes with yelps, and adult birds may also use variations of this call to reassemble scattered groups.
The Language of Turkeys
Turkey vocalizations form a complex communication system. During mating season, the male’s gobble attracts hens and warns off rival toms. Hens respond with yelps, signaling their location and readiness to breed, guiding courtship rituals.
Alarm calls, such as the sharp putt, convey immediate danger, prompting the flock to become alert or disperse. Soft clucks and purrs signal contentment and safety, promoting flock cohesion as birds feed or move together. These sounds help maintain contact.
Vocalizations also contribute to social dynamics, including establishing dominance hierarchies. Aggressive purrs and cutting, which are loud, erratic clucks, can indicate excitement or aggression, particularly when turkeys are competing for status. Turkeys also use soft tree yelps to communicate with flock members while still on their roosts, and cackles as they fly down, announcing their departure from a roosting spot.
Variations in Turkey Vocalizations
Turkey sounds vary based on sex and age. Male turkeys (toms) are known for their distinct gobble, their primary mating call. While hens can occasionally gobble, their vocal repertoire is broader, encompassing a wider range of clucks, yelps, and purrs. A gobbler’s yelp tends to be deeper and coarser than a hen’s.
Age also influences vocalizations. Young turkeys (poults) are recognized for high-pitched kee-kee calls, especially when separated from their group. As turkeys mature, their voices change, with adult birds developing raspier kee-kee sounds. Wild turkeys exhibit a complex array of vocalizations, with some reports suggesting up to 28 distinct sounds. This intricate communication system allows for nuanced interactions within their natural environments.