The turkey is a fascinating bird with a surprisingly wide range of vocalizations. From the iconic gobble of the male turkey to the nurturing clucks of a mother hen, turkeys have an array of sounds they use to communicate. Let’s explore the diverse sounds turkeys make and what they mean
Gobbling
The gobble is the most recognizable turkey call. Male turkeys, also called toms or gobblers, let out a loud, rapid gurgling sound known as gobbling. It is one of their main vocalizations, especially during mating season in the spring.
When a tom gobbles, he is announcing his presence to any nearby hens and proclaiming his dominance over other males The gobble can carry for over a mile and is meant to stake a claim over a territory and attract females
Toms often gobble first thing in the morning when waking up and throughout the day to communicate their location They also gobble more frequently when responding to calls from hens or competing males The resonant gobble is unique to male turkeys.
Yelping
The yelp is another classic turkey vocalization, used frequently by hens. It is a series of high-pitched, one note chirps. The plain yelp is used by hens to communicate a variety of messages, including:
- Getting a tom’s attention during mating season
- Assembling poults (chicks)
- Communicating with flock members
- Responding to a male’s gobble
There are variations of the yelp for different situations, like the assembly call yelp to gather separated flock members. Yelping is a turkey’s all-purpose communication and the go-to sound hens use daily.
Clucking
Clucking is similar to yelping but with shorter, more staccato notes. Hens cluck to get the attention of their poults or to signal males. It is often used to reassure approaching toms that a hen is waiting nearby.
Hens use gentle clucking to “talk” to their young, guiding them and keeping the flock together. When poults hear the familiar cluck of their mother, they know all is well.
Purring
Turkeys make a soft, rolling rumbled sound called purring. It indicates contentment among the flock and that all is well. Purring is a quieter sound turkeys use for close communication when feeding or roosting in trees.
Cackling
The cackle is a loud and abrupt call, starting with lower notes that quickly rise in pitch. It is mainly used by hens after leaving the roost in the morning or when flying up to roost in the evening. This distinct vocalization signals flying on or off the roost.
Cutting
Cutting consists of loud, sharp clucks combined with yelping. It indicates excitement, not alarm. Toms might cut when strutting to communicate aggression and dominance. Hens can use cutting to show annoyance or lure a dominant hen into a fight.
Kee-kee
The kee-kee call is a high-pitched three note sound used by lost poults to reassemble a scattered flock. Adults also use variations of kee-kee runs when the flock is fractured to gather separated birds.
Putt
The putt is one or more short, sharp notes used as an alarm call. It signals danger and warns the flock to watch for predators or intruders. Putting causes turkeys to become alert and cautious.
Other Sounds
Turkeys use a repertoire of other subtle sounds like peeping, whistling, humming, and drumming to communicate specific moods and situations. The chatter, clucks, and murmurs of a turkey flock reveal a complex social structure. Their unique vocalizations allow turkeys to survive and thrive in the wild.
Turkey Talk in the Wild
Understanding turkey vocabulary provides insight into their secret social lives. Here are some examples of turkey talk in the wild:
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A hen’s nurturing clucks guide her brood of poults across a field as they forage for bugs.
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Toms gobble back and forth on their roosts before flydown each morning, jockeying for status.
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The contented purrs of a flock settling in to roost signal a peaceful end to the day.
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A lost poult’s kee-kee run cries out, searching for the flock.
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Sharp putts followed by wing bursts show danger is afoot, sending the flock into alert mode.
Interpreting Turkey Communication
Knowing turkey language provides hunters and birders key insights. For example, hunters can use turkey talk to their advantage:
- Yelping like a hen to attract a gobbler during mating season
- Purring and clucking to reassure a tom coming toward a decoy
- Using a cackle to indicate a hen is on the ground nearby
- Making a lost kee-kee run to reassemble scattered flocks in fall
Understanding the nuances of turkey vocalizations allows humans to better appreciate these unique birds. Next time you hear turkey sounds, listen more closely to their range of communication.
The Meaning Behind Turkey Noises
Turkeys may seem simple, but they have a complex vocabulary. Their various vocalizations serve many important purposes:
- Staking a claim over territory
- Attracting mates
- Assembling flocks
- Protecting poults
- Warning others of danger
- Communicating general status
- Displaying aggression
- Showing contentment
- Finding lost flock members
From the gobbler’s booming announcement to the poult’s plaintive peeps, the sounds of turkeys reveal sophisticated social interactions. Their unique calls are central to the turkey’s world and survival.
So next time you hear a turkey’s voice, take a moment to appreciate the context behind their distinctive language. With its range of gobbling, yelping, cutting, and purring, the turkey has a story to tell!
There are a wide variety of different sounds or vocalizations made by wild turkeys. Listen to them here.
There are many factors that go into successfully hunting wild turkeys, including calling them at the right place at the right time. Knowing the distinctly different sounds wild turkeys make in specific situations will increase you chances for a successful harvest and make you an all-around better wild turkey hunter.
Sounds courtesy of Denny Gulvas of Gulvas Wildlife Adventures.
The adult hen assembly call is a series of loud yelps, usually a little more emphatic and longer than a standard series of yelps. The assembly yelp is used by a hen to assemble her flock or young poults. It is a good call in the fall when trying to call a scattered flock back together. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck often includes two or three single note clucks. Its generally used by one bird to get the attention of another and a good call to reassure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him. This is a great call while trying to encourage gobbler to come into range if he starts to hang up. It can also be used while birds are still on the roost to subtly let a gobbler know you are there. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The cluck and purr is a cluck followed by a rolling, almost staccato call. It is often associated with flock talk or the feeling of contentment. Typically not a loud call, though sometimes it can be amplified, it is good for reassuring turkeys as they get close to your position. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Loud, sharp clucks that are often mixed with yelping. Cutting is a sign that turkeys are excited, not alarmed. Cutting has several uses in hunting. If a gobbler is henned up, and one of the hens is cutting, you can cutt back in an attempt to bring her to you. You will want to mimic her calls, while cutting off her vocalizations and being a bit more excited. The goal with this tactic is to lure a dominate hen to you for a fight, often times bringing the gobbler with her. You can also cutt when you have tried soft calling to a gobbler that is hung up. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Similar sounds and notes as a plain yelp but much more excited, rapid and with more volume. This is not a sign of alarm, but indicates that a turkey is worked up about something. If a gobbler is henned up, you might be able to bring him to you by picking a fight with the dominate hen in the flock. Yelp at her excitedly, cut off her vocalizations with your own calls and you might lure the hen, and the gobbler with her, to you. You can also use an excited yelp when you have tried soft calling to a gobbler that is hung up. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Fly Down or Fly-up Cackle
A cackle usually consists of three to 10 irregularly spaced notes, loud and staccato, increasing in pitch as the call nears its end. The cackle is generally associated with leaving the roost, but can also be heard when a bird is flying up to a roost. A fly-down cackle is good call to tell a gobbler that a hen is on the ground. However, a fly-down cackle often works best if the gobbler is already on the ground before you call. Otherwise, the tom may stay on the roost; waiting for what he thinks is a hen turkey to come to him before he flies down. A fly-up cackle can also be a good tool when trying to locate roosted toms, as it may get a roosted tom to gobble. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The gobble is a loud, rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys. The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area. Hunters must be cautious using a gobble, especially on public land where it may attract fellow hunters to your position. It can also be a double-edged sword. A gobble may draw a dominate tom to you looking for a fight or you might drive away less dominant birds who want to avoid a beating. It is often used as a call of last resort. However, it can also be used effectively late in the evening when trying to get a tom to gobble on the roost. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The kee kee is usually a three-note call that lasts about two seconds. A variation of the call, the kee kee run, is merely a kee kee followed by a yelp. The kee kee is the call of lost young turkeys and variations are also made by adult birds. Its often associated with fall hunting and is used to reassemble a scattered flock. It can be used in the spring to make you sound more natural – especially on public land where it may set you apart from all the other hunters using yelps and cutts. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The plain yelp of a hen is a basic turkey sound and is often delivered in a series of single note vocalizations. The plain yelp can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it, but it is basic turkey communication. It is also commonly used by a hen to communicate with a gobbler during mating season. This is a basic turkey hunting call. If you can yelp, you have a chance of being able to call in a turkey. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It is a low vocal communication designed to keep the turkeys in touch and often is made by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get close to your position. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The putt is a single or several sharp notes. The putt is generally associated as an alarm and usually means the bird has seen or heard something and is signaling danger. This can be useful when you have a gobbler in range, but cant get him to raise his head or stop. However, before putting at a gobbler it is best to have your shotgun ready and on target. Once you raise the alarm by putting, you will have little time to shoot and the bird will take off at the slightest movement. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The tree call is a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird that sometimes picks up in volume as fly down time nears. Maybe accompanied by soft clucking. It is generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock. It can be used to let a gobbler on the roost know you are there. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Turkey Call – Turkey Sound ~ Learn The Sound a Turkey Makes
FAQ
How many sounds do turkeys make?
How do you hear a turkey?
How do turkeys communicate?
How loud are turkeys?
What sound does a turkey make?
A turkey gobble is the best-known turkey sound. The gobble is the turkey version of crowing. When a turkey gobbles, they make loud gurgling sounds. This is one of the most recognized sounds these birds make. However, they usually gobble in the spring when the male announces to the females that he is close by.
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.
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 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.