Turkeys that are kept as pets are not considered flightless birds because it is hard to imagine their big bodies ever being able to get enough lift off the ground to fly.
Is that also true for turkeys that roam freely? If so, can wild turkeys fly? Read on to find out more about wild turkeys, whether they can fly, and if so, how far and how fast they can fly.
There is some evidence that wild turkeys can fly, and they can get into the air with short, strong bursts of speed. They need to be able to fly to get to the tree branches where they sleep at night to avoid being eaten, but they can’t fly very far.
Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated relatives, have to get off the ground often, either to avoid danger or to get to a safe place to sleep at night in the trees above their foraging areas on the forest floor.
Their natural instinct to fly takes over when they sense danger, but they aren’t designed to fly long distances, at high speeds for long periods of time, or at great heights.
Come with us as we look more closely at how wild turkeys fly and try to figure out why wild turkeys can fly but domestic turkeys can’t.
How Far Can a Wild Turkey Fly? Uncovering the Flight Capabilities of These Impressive Birds
With their bulky bodies and short stubby wings, turkeys are not often thought of as birds capable of flight. Yet wild turkeys frequently take to the air, surprising us with their ability to propel themselves skyward when needed But just how far can a wild turkey’s flight take it? Let’s find out
Wild Turkeys Can Fly Short DistancesWhile domestic turkeys are bred to be flightless, wild turkeys retain their ancestral ability to fly However, they are built for covering ground more than air When threatened, wild turkeys use bursts of flight to reach safety, but these are short hops rather than lengthy journeys.
Typical Flight Distance is Around 400 Meters
Research shows that the maximum flight distance for wild turkeys is approximately 400 meters, or a quarter of a mile. This quick powerful flight allows them to evade predators or reach night-time roosting spots high in trees. Any further and they tire rapidly. So wild turkeys are capable flyers, just not over long distances.
Using Flight to Escape Predators
When startled by an approaching predator like a coyote or fox, a wild turkey’s instinct is to immediately take flight. With a running start, wings beating vigorously, they swiftly become airborne. But after flying 400 meters at most to safety, they must stop to rest and recover.
Reaching Roosts High in Trees
Each evening, wild turkeys fly up to their chosen roosting branches, typically around 15 meters (50 feet) high. Again, they can only make these short trips up to the canopy before needing to rest. Their flight abilities are valuable for roosting out of reach of predators.
Flight Speeds of 55 mph
Wild turkeys fly fast for the short time they are airborne. Timed at speeds of 55 mph, they propel their 15-25 pound bodies at up to 90 km/h. But maintaining this pace rapidly saps their energy reserves, keeping flights brief.
Wings Adapted for Short Bursts
The wild turkey’s wings are designed for quick getaways and spurts, not lengthy flight. Their broad, rounded shape generates lift for take-off and short distances. The wings’ small surface area prevents gliding and long journeys.
Heavy Bodies Require High Energy
These large ground birds have heavy bodily and muscle mass. The chemical glycogen needed to power flight is quickly depleted by their size. So wild turkeys can only fly vigorously for a few hundred meters at most before exhaustion sets in.
Other Flight Adaptations
Wild turkeys have other flight adaptations like powerful chest muscles for wing-beating and long primary feathers to aid rapid elevation. But their anatomy ultimately suits on-foot travel over prolonged air travel.
Young Turkeys Start Flying at 4-5 Weeks
Newly hatched turkeys, called poults, begin test-flying short distances at 4-5 weeks old. They are soon able to follow their mothers to night-time roosts in the treetops as their flight skills strengthen.
No Migration in Wild Turkeys
The wild turkey’s inability to fly great distances means they do not undertake migratory journeys to new territories like many bird species. However, they cope with winter through adaptation, roosting for long periods and living off fat reserves when food is scarce.
Occasional Swimming Observed
On rare occasions, wild turkeys will swim across rivers or lakes. Despite no webbed feet, they can propel themselves using their feet and wings, and their buoyant bodies help too. But flying allows more direct crossings.
Domestic Turkeys Cannot Fly at All
In contrast, domestic turkeys are flightless, through selective breeding for meat production. Their extra breast weight makes lift-off impossible. With no predators in farms or pens, they have no need for flight capabilities.
Do wild turkeys migrate?
Wild turkeys lack the necessary long-term flight capabilities to fly a sufficient distance for regular migration. Since they can’t successfully fly to warmer areas, they have to find other ways to adapt to their surroundings when the temperature drops. They can live in temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) by keeping warm with their body fat.
Animals like wild turkeys can go about two weeks without food, so when winter comes, they may choose to find a safe place to roost on a high branch and go into a state similar to hibernation for a long time.
How high can wild turkeys fly?
Wild turkeys fly at relatively low altitudes, high enough to reach the strongest, primary branches of broad-leaved trees. Wild turkeys often roost in trees that are about 15 m (50 ft) above the ground, but they also use trees that are only 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 ft) above the ground.
They often go back to the same favorite place to sleep and don’t need to fly to higher branches if they find a thick, horizontal branch lower on the tree trunk.
A flock of wild turkeys in the winter, some flying
Turkey on the Fly
FAQ
How far will wild turkeys travel?
What is the home range of a wild turkey?
How fast can a wild turkey run and fly?
Will free range turkeys fly away?
How far can a Turkey fly?
Their broad wings and slim neck helps them fly as far as 400 meters from the ground. They can also fly down the mountains in hilly areas or woodlands. Although wild turkeys like running more than they like flying, they can still fly; they can fly a little distance, especially at night, though they can’t go very high.
How fast can a wild turkey fly?
Once airborne, a wild turkey will quickly reach its intended roosting spot, or land on the ground a safe distance from the threat that spooked it into flight. On land, wild turkeys can cover far more ground, reaching running speeds of around 40 km/h (25 mph).
Do wild turkeys fly long distances?
There have been times when wild turkeys flew for several hundred yards to cross large canyons when escaping predators or hunters. Even though they sometimes fly on longer distances, this isn’t their mundane thing; soaring or going on lengthy flights isn’t a wild turkey’s thing.
How do wild turkeys fly?
A wild turkey’s wings are capable enough to take sudden rapid flights; they mostly sit in the flying or their “cupped” position, ready to fly off when need be. This technique helps them get away from an attacker, hunter, or predator; just a burst of leg energy and flap of large wings.
Why are wild turkeys not able to fly?
Wild turkeys are only built for very short bursts of flight, so lengthy or leisurely flights are not on the cards. A turkey’s breast muscles are not developed for long periods in the air. This is because a turkey’s reserves of the chemical glycogen, needed to maintain a strength while airborne, is used up quickly during flight.
Do turkeys fly up high?
This technique helps them get away from an attacker, hunter, or predator; just a burst of leg energy and flap of large wings. Since wild turkeys feed on the land, they are commonly misunderstood for not flying up high. Busting this myth, these birds can soar for short bursts and can stay near the ground.