Wild turkeys are one of North America’s most iconic birds, known for their unique traits, striking appearance, and fascinating behaviors. Once nearly wiped out in the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss, they’ve made an incredible comeback and now thrive in all 49 continental states and parts of Canada. Adaptable to forests, fields, and even suburban areas, wild turkeys are a conservation success story and more than just a symbol of Thanksgiving. In the following article we’ll give you at least another 26 interesting facts about wild turkeys.
1. Wild Turkeys Can Run 20 Miles Per Hour
Wild turkeys are incredibly fast on the ground, reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. This speed is crucial for escaping predators such as foxes and coyotes. Their strong legs allow them to sprint across open fields or forest floors with ease. Running is their first line of defense, as they prefer to save flying for emergencies or reaching treetop roosts.
2. Wild Turkeys Can Fly Up to 55 Miles Per Hour
Despite their bulky appearance, wild turkeys are capable of short but powerful flights at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. They use this ability to evade predators and to access their nightly roosts in trees. While their flights are typically low and brief, they’re an essential survival skill. Domesticated turkeys, bred for size, have lost this ability, making their wild counterparts all the more unique.
3. Only Male Turkeys Gobble
The gobble is the most iconic sound associated with turkeys, but it’s a call only males, or toms, produce. They gobble to attract hens during the breeding season and to warn off rival males. The sound can travel over a mile in open areas, making it an effective signal in the wild. Hens, on the other hand, communicate using softer sounds like clucks, yelps, and purrs.
4. Male Turkeys Are Called Toms
Adult male turkeys are commonly referred to as toms, while females are called hens. Juvenile males are called jakes, and young females are known as jennies. This terminology reflects the distinct roles and characteristics of each. Males, for example, are larger and display their impressive tail fans and wattles during courtship displays, while females tend to be smaller and less ornate.
5. Wild Turkeys Have Excellent Vision
Turkeys have extraordinary eyesight, with a field of view covering about 270 degrees. This wide range, combined with the ability to detect movement at over 100 yards, makes them highly alert. Their keen vision is an advantage in spotting food and predators. It’s also one reason hunters must remain especially still and camouflaged when observing or hunting turkeys.
6. Turkeys Roost in Trees at Night
Despite spending much of their time on the ground, wild turkeys roost in trees at night to stay safe from predators like coyotes and foxes. They fly up to low branches at dusk and settle in groups for added security. Turkeys have strong legs and claws that help them balance on branches while they sleep. This behavior is a key survival strategy, especially in areas with high predator activity.
7. Male Turkeys Display Their Tail Feathers
During the breeding season, male turkeys, or toms, put on an impressive display by fanning out their tail feathers, puffing up their bodies, and strutting. This behavior, known as “strutting,” is meant to attract hens and demonstrate dominance over rival males. The vibrant display is enhanced by the snood and wattle, which change color to indicate the tom’s mood and health.
8. Turkeys Have 5,000 to 6,000 Feathers
Wild turkeys are covered in thousands of feathers that serve multiple purposes, including insulation, camouflage, and display. Their feathers are highly iridescent, reflecting shades of bronze, green, and gold. This shimmering effect helps males stand out during mating displays. The primary feathers also play a crucial role in enabling short but powerful flights.
9. Turkeys Have a Wattle Under Their Neck
The wattle is the fleshy growth that hangs under a turkey’s neck, and it’s more than just a distinctive feature. It plays a role in thermoregulation, helping turkeys release excess heat in hot weather. During courtship, the wattle becomes bright red, signaling health and vitality to potential mates. It’s often displayed prominently alongside the snood during mating rituals.
10. Turkeys Can See in Color
Wild turkeys have excellent eyesight and can see in color, which is rare among many animals. This ability helps them identify predators, food sources, and even subtle changes in their environment. In addition, their eyes are adapted to detect ultraviolet light (fact #16), giving them a unique advantage in spotting insects and reflective surfaces in their habitat.
11. Turkeys Were Domesticated Over 2,000 Years Ago
Wild turkeys were first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in Mexico over 2,000 years ago. They were primarily raised for their meat and feathers, which were used for ceremonial purposes. These domesticated birds were later brought to Europe in the 1500s by Spanish explorers, eventually becoming the ancestors of today’s farm-raised turkeys.
12. Wild Turkeys Are Found in 49 States
Wild turkeys are native to North America and can now be found in every U.S. state except Alaska. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in a wide variety of habitats, from forests and grasslands to suburban backyards. This success is due to decades of conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and reintroductions.
13. Benjamin Franklin Admired Turkeys
Benjamin Franklin famously expressed admiration for the wild turkey, even suggesting it would have been a better national symbol than the bald eagle. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin described the turkey as a “bird of courage” and noted its status as a true native of North America. Despite his praise, the bald eagle ultimately became the national emblem.
14. A Group of Turkeys Is Called a Rafter
Wild turkeys are social animals that often travel in groups. A group of turkeys is known as a rafter, though the term flock is more commonly used in everyday language. These groups help turkeys stay safe by providing multiple sets of eyes to watch for predators. In winter, turkeys often form larger rafters for warmth and protection.
15. Turkeys’ Heads Change Color
Wild turkeys have bare skin on their heads that can change color depending on their mood. The skin may turn red, white, or blue, with shifts happening quickly in response to excitement, stress, or aggression. This color-changing ability is most prominent during mating season, when toms use it as a display to attract hens and intimidate rivals.
16. Turkeys Can See Ultraviolet Light
Wild turkeys have highly advanced vision, allowing them to see ultraviolet (UV) light. This unique ability helps them detect predators, food sources, and even subtle changes in their environment. UV light sensitivity gives turkeys an edge in spotting reflective surfaces like feathers or shiny objects that could indicate danger.
17. Wild Turkey Populations Rebounded After Near Extinction
In the early 1900s, wild turkey populations in North America were nearly wiped out due to overhunting and habitat destruction. Thanks to conservation efforts, including reintroduction programs and habitat restoration, their numbers have rebounded to over 7 million today. They’re now considered one of the greatest conservation success stories in the U.S.
18. Turkeys Use Crops to Store Food
Wild turkeys have a specialized organ called a crop, located near their throat, which acts as a temporary food storage pouch. This allows them to eat large quantities quickly and digest the food later in a safer location. The crop is especially useful during winter when food is scarce and turkeys need to consume more to sustain themselves.
19. The Snood Plays a Role in Courtship
The snood, the fleshy appendage that hangs over a turkey’s beak, plays an important role in attracting mates. During courtship, the snood elongates and becomes more colorful, signaling health and vitality to potential partners. Research has shown that hens prefer toms with longer, more prominent snoods, making it a key feature in their mating success.
20. Turkey Poults Are Highly Independent
Turkey chicks, known as poults, are incredibly independent compared to many other bird species. Within 24 hours of hatching, poults leave the nest and begin foraging alongside their mother. While they still rely on their mother for warmth and protection, poults are able to find and eat food on their own almost immediately.
21. Turkeys Thrive in Forests and Suburban Areas
Wild turkeys are highly adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and even suburban neighborhoods. They prefer areas with a mix of open spaces for foraging and wooded areas for roosting. This adaptability has allowed them to expand their range and thrive in regions where they were previously absent.
22. Turkeys Can Cover a Mile in 30 Minutes While Foraging
Turkeys are active foragers, covering significant ground each day in search of food. They can travel over a mile in just 30 minutes while scratching the ground for seeds, insects, and berries. Their efficient foraging habits help them sustain themselves during leaner seasons, like late fall and winter.
23. Turkeys Swallow Stones to Aid Digestion
Since turkeys lack teeth, they swallow small stones, called gastroliths, to help grind food in their gizzard, a specialized part of their stomach. These stones are crucial for breaking down tough materials like seeds and nuts, ensuring the turkey gets the nutrients it needs. This adaptation is especially useful when their diet shifts to harder foods in the colder months.
24. Turkeys Are Polygamous During Breeding Season
During the breeding season, male turkeys, or toms, can mate with multiple hens. After mating, the hen lays her eggs and incubates them without further involvement from the tom. This polygamous behavior helps ensure the survival of the species by maximizing the number of offspring each season.
25. Turkeys Communicate With Over 20 Vocalizations
Wild turkeys are highly vocal birds, using a variety of calls to communicate with one another. They have over 20 distinct vocalizations, including clucks, purrs, yelps, and gobbles. These sounds are used for different purposes, such as locating flock members, warning of predators, or signaling feeding opportunities.
26. Turkeys Became a Thanksgiving Tradition in the 1800s
While wild turkeys are native to North America, their association with Thanksgiving didn’t solidify until the mid-1800s. Early Thanksgiving feasts often featured venison, waterfowl, and fish, with turkey being one of many options.
Its popularity grew due to its abundance, affordability, and ability to feed large families. Sarah Josepha Hale, an advocate for making Thanksgiving a national holiday, promoted turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. By the time Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a federal holiday in 1863, turkey had become a staple of the celebration.
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