Why Do Turkeys Gobble?

Have you ever heard a loud gobble in the woods? Male wild turkeys are famous for making this funny sound. These male birds are called toms. Toms gobble loudly to talk to other turkeys across the forest. Their big call can travel for over a mile. It tells other males to stay away, and it helps female turkeys find them in the spring.

Wild turkeys make many other sounds besides gobbling. Mother turkeys and young birds use soft yelps and clucks to stay together while walking. If a turkey spots a sneaky coyote, it makes a sharp putting sound. This quick alarm tells the whole flock to hide or fly up into tall trees. Domestic turkeys live safely on farms, but wild turkeys rely on these special calls to stay safe every day.

Turkeys also talk to each other without making a sound. A male turkey puffs up his body and spreads his tail into a huge fan. He struts across the grass and drags his wings to look big and strong. The bare skin on his head can even change color from red to bright blue and white. These body signals and calls help wild turkeys share important news with their flock.