Turkeys make a variety of sounds, but when limping, they have a distinct wobble to their gobble. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating sounds turkeys make, what they mean, and the telltale wobble of a limping turkey.
An Overview of Turkey Sounds
Wild turkeys have a diverse vocal repertoire with over 30 unique calls These vocalizations allow turkeys to communicate important information to other members of their flock Here are some of the most common turkey sounds
-
Gobble Male turkeys gobble to attract females and advertise their presence Their gobble can be heard from over a mile away.
-
Yelp: A high-pitched call that communicates alarm, excitement or distress. Mother hens will yelp to call their poults.
-
Cluck A clicking or chuckling sound that helps turkeys stay in contact with one another, It’s often made by mother hens
-
Purr: Made during courtship. When males display for females, they purr and puff out their feathers.
-
Cackle: The cackle is thought to help regroup birds after a predator attack. It’s a fast, repetitive clucking.
-
Putt: A low-pitched clucking that signals contentment or feeding. It helps maintain contact between birds.
Whine: High-pitched whining denotes anxiety or food begging in poults.
What Does a Limping Turkey Sound Like?
When limping, a turkey’s gait and vocalizations change dramatically. They adopt a labored, wobbly gait and their calls have a warbling, uneven quality.
If you hear a turkey making an uneven, wobbly gobbling sound, chances are it has an injured leg or foot. The altered gait required for limping changes the timing and rhythm of the gobble. Instead of the usual bold, resonant gobble of a strutting tom, the gobble of a limping turkey will have an unsteady, stuttering wobble to it.
Young poults may also make stuttering peeping sounds when limping from an injury or illness. The uneven rhythm and pitch fluctuations make it very obvious the bird is struggling to walk normally.
Why Do Turkeys Limp?
There are a few key reasons wild and domesticated turkeys end up with a limp:
-
Leg and foot injuries: Sprains, fractures, cuts on the foot pads or bumblefoot cause limping.
-
Mycoplasmosis: This bacterial disease causes swelling in joints leading to lameness.
-
Predator attacks: Attempted predation can result in minor injuries and limping.
-
Old age: Arthritis and muscle weakness in older birds leads to labored gaits.
-
Birth defects: Some turkeys are born with deformities like twisted legs.
-
Weight issues: In domestic turkeys, obesity stresses joints and causes limping.
So in both wild and farm environments, physical injuries, illnesses and age-related issues can all result in a limping turkey. Their stuttering, uneven gait leads to equally uneven vocalizations like wobbly gobbling.
Limping Turkey Riddles and Jokes
The curious wobble of a limping turkey has inspired some funny riddles and jokes! Here are a few popular ones:
-
Q: What sound does a limping turkey make?
A: Wobble, wobble! -
Q: What do you call a running turkey?
A: Fast food. -
Q: What happens when cranberries are sad?
A: They turn into blueberries. -
Q: What did the turkey say to the turkey hunter on Thanksgiving Day?
A: “Quack, quack!” -
Q: If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring?
A: Pilgrims!
The silly imagery of a turkey limp-wobbling along seems to lend itself well to jokes and riddles. Kids and adults alike can appreciate the humor in a limping turkey’s funny gait and vocalizations. Their uneven, stuttering gobble is an endless source of amusement.
Your kids will appreciate these animal jokes.
A turkey looks like the type of bird who would have a great sense of humor. If your kids are crazy about turkeys, or just love a good pun, then they’ll appreciate these goofy turkey jokes. Your family will be pretty impressed by these quips that are perfect to whip out during a lull in conversation.
And no — you don’t have to be celebrating Thanksgiving to share these funny jokes with your children. Let the giggles go and don’t hold back the belly laughs!
These gobble puns will ruffle your and your kids’ feathers (in a good way!).
- Why shouldnt you sit next to a turkey at dinner? Because he will gobble it up!
- If you call a big turkey a gobbler, what do you call a small one? A goblet.
- What is a turkey’s favorite dessert? Peach gobbler!
- Why did the farmer report the turkey to the police? He sensed fowl play.
- Why do turkeys gobble? Because they never learned table manners.
- What sound does a limping turkey make? Wobble, wobble!
- What did the turkey say to the computer? Google, google!
- What type of glass does a turkey drink from? A goblet.
These jokes are just as silly as turkeys themselves!
- What key has legs and cant open a door? A tur-key.
- Whats the best dance to do on Thanksgiving? The turkey trot.
- What do you call a turkey the day after Thanksgiving? Lucky!
- What side of a turkey grows more feathers? The outside!
- Why did they let the turkey join the band? Because he had his own drumsticks.
- What do turkeys like to do on sunny days? Have peck-nics!
- Why do turkeys lay eggs? Because if they dropped them, they would break.
- Why did the turkey cross and then recross the road? To prove he wasn’t chicken.
- What do you call a ghost of a turkey? A poultry-geist.
More goofy turkey jokes
Don’t roll your eyes too hard — these turkey jokes are just about as silly as they come!
- Why did the turkey cross the road? He wanted people to think he was a chicken.
- Fruit comes from a fruit tree, so where does turkey come from? A poul-tree.
- Can a turkey jump higher than a house? Yes, because houses cant jump!
- What’s the difference between a turkey and a chicken? Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving.
- What sound does a turkey’s phone make? Wing, wing! Wing, wing!
- What kind of weather does a turkey like? Fowl weather.
- What do turkeys give thanks for on Thanksgiving? Vegetarians.
- Why did the turkey get detention? He used fowl language.
Want to laugh at more animal-themed jokes? Check out these funny cow jokes and have a laugh at these cat jokes.
Hihikats – What Sound Does A Limping Turkey Make? | Dr. Irina
Do turkeys make a gurgling sound?
There is a myth that only male turkeys can make the gobble sound; however, hens can make the loud, rapid gurgling, just as chicken hens can crow. A purr is a low, soft, rolling sound, like a kitten’s purr. A contented kitten will make a soft purring sound. A contented turkey also makes a soft purring sound.
Why do turkeys make a gobble call?
Turkey sounds are specific to the age, gender, and function of the sound. Most people think that every turkey makes the gobble call because they are familiar with it. Humans rarely hear most of the sounds made by wild turkeys. For communication purposes, they have developed a distinctive set of sounds.
How do turkeys communicate with each other?
Turkeys communicate with one another by making various noises. Turkey sounds are specific to the age, gender, and function of the sound. Most people think that every turkey makes the gobble call because they are familiar with it. Humans rarely hear most of the sounds made by wild turkeys.
Why does a Turkey Gobble a Yelp?
A turkey will gobble most often in the spring. This is his way of letting females know he is nearby. Although male turkeys are able to make a variety of sounds, the gobble is their main means of communication. Only male turkeys will gobble. The yelp is the primary call of the female turkey, known as the hen. There is no single meaning to this call.