Wild turkeys have incredible eyesight. Their ability to sense a predator, like a hunter leaning back against a tree, is uncanny. Turkey vision can seem even supernatural at times. But really, it’s just a combination of evolution and physiology. There’s still plenty we don’t know about how turkeys see, but researchers have uncovered plenty of interesting facts, many of which can be useful to hunters.
We know that a turkey’s vision is three times sharper than our own. They can also see nearly eight times farther than we can, and their color vision is far more enhanced than ours. Turkey vision has evolved over the course of millions of years to help them spot predators, locate mates, and identify challengers. Understanding how turkeys see and perceive danger just might help improve your hunting setups this spring.
As turkey hunters, we’ve all experienced it – calling in a big tom turkey only to have him hang up just outside of shooting range, acting wary and suspicious Even when concealed in camo and remaining perfectly still, those birds seem to have a sixth sense, picking us out of the background and busting us by subtly putting and stepping away So what gives? How is it that wild turkeys can so effectively evade hunters, even seasoned ones? The answer lies in their incredible vision. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what turkey vision is like and how it stacks up against human sight.
A Wider Field of View
One of the biggest differences between human and turkey vision is field of view. As humans, our eyes are facing forwards, giving us binocular vision with a field of view spanning about 180 degrees. Turkeys, on the other hand, have eyes placed more to the sides of their heads. This monocular vision gives them a massive 270 degree field of view. Even when completely still, a turkey can see all around itself except for a small blind spot at the back of its head. Add in the constant head bobbing and turning turkeys do, and they can effectively see a full 360 degrees around their body at all times. Needless to say, it’s incredibly difficult to sneak up on a turkey’s field of view when it covers all directions.
Telescopic Vision
If the turkey’s field of view wasn’t advantage enough, they also have far superior visual clarity and range. A wild turkey’s eyesight is about three times sharper than a human with perfect 20/20 vision. So while we may struggle to make out details at 100 yards, a turkey might see them crisp and clear at 300 yards or more. Their visual acuity is incredible, allowing them to spot even tiny movements at long distance – more than enough visual range to detect an approaching hunter.
Vibrant Color Vision color vision is fairly limited compared to many animals, and turkeys are no exception. We see a range of colors in the visual spectrum thanks to three types of cone cells in our eyes. Turkeys, however, have four types of cone cells along with additional double cone cells. This allows them to detect a wider spectrum and see more subtle differences in colors. Ultraviolet sensitivity further expands the turkey’s color range. They can perceive colors we simply can’t, and camouflage that appears matched to the human eye often stands out in wild turkey vision.
Rapid Information Processing
It’s not just the hardware of turkey eyes that makes their vision special. Their visual information processing capabilities are extremely advanced as well. Turkeys have heavily adapted as a prey species, evolving to identify threats quickly and precisely. When a turkey spots potential danger it can rapidly focus in gather visual details, and analyze them to determine if the threat is real. The turkey’s quick information processing means hunters have little time to react once detected. If that telltale head bobbing signals the jig is up, the turkey likely already has a detailed visual grasp of the situation.
Superb Motion Detection
Turkeys don’t just see well in terms of acuity, range, field of view and color. Their vision is also highly attuned to detecting motion. Even tiny movements stand out to turkeys across considerable distances. A hunter adjusting their seat, drawing a bow, or even just turning their head can set off alarm bells. This motion sensitivity is yet another predator detection adaptation. When you consider how sharp and wide-ranging turkey vision is, even a slow and subtle shift in position can be glaringly obvious.
The Third Eyelid Advantage
Turkeys gain another visual edge from their unique third eyelid, or nictitating membrane. This translucent inner eyelid helps protect their eyes and keeps them clear of dust and debris. It sweeps sideways across the eyeball constantly at an incredible rate. Turkeys close their outer eyelids only during sleep. Otherwise, the inner eyelid works constantly to keep their eyes crystal clean. Imagine having a built-in eye wash keeping your eyes free of any blurring or obstructing particles. Turkeys essentially have this advantage, ensuring their vision stays maximally clear and sharp at all times.
Superior Low Light Vision Too
As if their daytime vision wasn’t enough, turkeys also see better than humans in low light conditions. They can’t see nearly as well at night as some predators like owls and raccoons, so they head to roost well before dark. But during those twilight hours when we’re struggling to see, turkeys still have decent visual capabilities. So while turkey hunters try to set up and situate before dawn, turkeys can already survey the surroundings in the low morning light and may be able to pick out hunters.
Camouflage Considerations
With such a vast visual repertoire on their side, it may seem almost impossible to best the vision of a wild turkey. However, hunters aren’t entirely without options. Effective camouflage can help stack the deck little more in our favor when matched properly to specific hunting environments. It’s also critical to minimize movement at all costs when hunting turkeys. Their motion detection abilities mean even adjusting your seat or shifting your shoulder can blow your cover. Hunters should also consider how the angles and shadows of their setup impact the turkey’s view as it approaches. Our eyes can’t compete with wild turkey vision, but with vigilance, careful camo choices and minimal movement, we can at least narrow the advantage.
So there you have it – a comprehensive overview of the impressive visual capabilities of the wild turkey compared to our own human sight. From wider fields of view and telescopic clarity to vivid color and motion detection, it’s easy to see why the turkey’s eye view gives them a definite leg up. But with dedication to stealth and an understanding of their perspective, hunters can still lure in lovestruck toms each spring. Just don’t expect to ever truly match vision with these eagle-eyed birds. When it comes to visual prowess in the spring woods, the wild turkey reigns supreme.
Turkeys Can See in All Directions at Once
When it comes to keeping an eye out for predators, a wild turkey’s greatest asset is its ability to see in all directions at once. Turkeys have monocular vision, which means their eyeballs function independently of one another. (As opposed to our own binocular vision that uses both eyes in concert.) This gives the birds a 270-degree field of vision when their heads are perfectly still. But as most turkey hunters know, this is rarely the case.
“If you pay attention, [turkeys] turn their heads constantly. And because their eyes are working independently, that offers them a 360-degree field of view,” says Dr. Mike Chamberlain, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia who’s been researching wild turkeys for the past 30 years. “Whereas you and I have peripheral vision, but we can’t see above or behind us, turkeys can. By changing their head posture constantly, it allows their eyes to pick up movement as two independent periscopes.”
Chamberlain says turkeys also rely on their keen sense of hearing to augment their vision. Working in combination, these two senses allow them to quickly and accurately pinpoint potential predators and other turkeys.
“Their hearing is the same in the sense that each ear registers the sound independently and transmits it to their brain. Coupled with their vision, they can hear something, look in that direction, and they can pinpoint exactly where that sound is coming from,” he explains. “That’s why they have that uncanny ability [to locate other birds]. You call at them from the tree, and ten minutes later they’re standing right there at the tree.”
The biggest trade-off for being able to see in all directions at once is that turkeys don’t have clear depth perception. The classic turkey head bob helps with this shortcoming, according to The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management, a book that was published in 1992 by the National Wild Turkey Federation and edited by Dr. James G. Dickson.
“Though the three dimensions of space cannot be clearly perceived,” Dickson writes, “the turkey can determine relative distances by a slight turning of its head and viewing an object at different angles.”
Turkeys Can See Color–Better Than Us
Of all the vertebrate species on the planet today, birds have the most complex retinas. Accordingly, they perceive a larger and richer spectrum of colors than humans and other mammals do.
Without getting too deep into eyeball science, the human retina has four types of photoreceptors, consisting of one rod and three single cones. Rods help us see in low light, while cones help convert light into color signals, allowing us to see short, moderate, and long wavelengths of blue, green, and red.
A turkey’s retina, on the other hand, has seven different types of photoreceptors: one rod, four single cones, and two double cones. This allows turkeys (and other birds) to see a spectrum of colors that are imperceptible to the naked human eye.
Dr. Chamberlain tells Outdoor Life that there’s some debate among the scientific community about whether or not turkeys can see in the UV spectrum. Regardless, he says, their color vision is “extremely acute.” This gives the birds another advantage when scanning their surroundings for predators.
“They can just pinpoint colors so well,” Chamberlain says. “Blues, blacks, and other things in their environment that may not look natural, they can pick these out immediately.”
The importance of color goes beyond predator detection, however. Hen turkeys use their enhanced color vision to seek out mates, as the fitter, more dominant toms are always more colorful than the others.
A strutting tom makes his presence known. Adobe stock
“If you’re a dominant male, you’re going to breed more than a subordinate tom,” Chamberlain explains. “They’re more fit and more aggressive. They have longer snoods, more colorful heads, and more iridescence [in their feathers].”
Turkeys also have the amazing ability to change their head color to communicate and express emotions, like when a strutting gobbler’s head transitions from bluish-white to a bright reddish color.
Turkey Vision: What do Turkeys see?
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