Domestic Turkey song and calls

Birdsong and calls are often the easiest way to identify the Domestic Turkey, especially when the bird is hidden in dense foliage. Below is what to listen for.

Song

The most iconic vocalization of the male is the 'gobble,' a loud, resonant, rapid series of calls used primarily to attract mates and assert dominance. It can be heard from a considerable distance.

Calls

Other calls include 'clucks' (short, sharp sounds), 'yelps' (series of high-pitched calls), 'putts' (alarm or contentment calls), and 'purrs' (soft, rolling sounds, often indicating contentment). Hens use a variety of clucks and yelps to communicate with their poults.

When they vocalize

Males gobble most frequently at dawn and dusk, and throughout the day during the breeding season. Other calls are used year-round for communication within the flock.

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