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.
Can Turkeys See Orange? The Surprising Science Behind Turkey Vision
As spring turkey season approaches, a heated debate arises among hunters – can turkeys see blaze orange? This question has critical implications for both hunter safety and success in the field. After diving into the latest scientific research and hunter experiences, the surprising truth emerges.
While turkeys can perceive orange to some degree, their vision works differently than our own. Motion, not color, is the turkey’s primary focus. Understanding the full capabilities of turkey vision can help hunters use effective strategies with blaze orange this season.
Turkeys Have Amazing Color Vision
There’s no doubt about it – turkeys see color far better than humans do. Their eyes contain four types of color cones, unlike our three, allowing them to distinguish more hues This enhanced color vision helps turkeys find food, select mates and spot dangers that look “unnatural”.
So yes, turkeys can physically detect blaze orange. But that alone may not alarm them as much as we think.
Movement Matters More Than Color
Multiple studies have shown turkeys strongly prioritize movement and shapes over specific colors. In one trial, hunters wore full orange with camo face nets and remained utterly still. Turkeys walked within feet, apparently oblivious to the strange orange blobs.
Without motion as a cue, the turkeys saw no threat. Blaze orange alone is unlikely to spook turkeys if you stay statue-still. Quick motions will flush them regardless of your outfit.
Consider the Turkey’s Perspective
Wary older gobblers react differently than younger jakes and hens. Still, even dominant toms seem to tolerate stationary blaze orange.
Turkeys also regularly see bright orange oak leaves in autumn. So blaze clothing may seem unnatural to us, but not register as danger to them.
Furthermore, turkeys have relatively poor depth perception from their wide vision. Blaze orange may appear as a meaningless distant dot when you’re motionless.
Effective Blaze Orange Strategies
Given turkeys’ motion focus, strategic blaze orange use can boost safety without ruining your camouflage. Consider these tips:
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Wear orange while moving, then remove it once settled in.
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Hang orange items high or behind you to mark your presence.
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Carry orange to wave only when absolutely necessary.
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Use orange icons on a vest instead of full coverage.
The verdict is in – turkeys notice orange yet don’t intrinsically fear it. With careful blaze orange strategies and discipline, you can stay safe and concealed. Outsmarting turkeys requires understanding exactly how their eyes and brains work. This knowledge can give you an advantage this season.
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.
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FAQ
Can turkeys see the color orange?
Wisconsin game regulations require all hunters and trappers to wear blaze orange or pink while afield during any open gun deer season. Turkeys can easily see blaze orange and are spooked by this color, a serious problem for the state’s avid turkey hunters.
Should you wear orange when turkey hunting?
It is always a good idea to wear blaze orange when entering and leaving the woods. Many turkey hunting vests have blaze orange panels stitched in to the back pouch or front pockets. Protect your back. Sit with your back to a large tree or other natural object.
Do turkeys see in 2D or 3D?
They lack 3D vision, but compensate by bobbing their heads up and down to gather information about their surroundings. They have excellent peripheral vision to alert them of nearby predators.
What colors should I avoid when turkey hunting?
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Avoid red, white, and blue:These are the most critical colors to avoid as they are highly visible and resemble a turkey’s head and neck.
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Camouflage is key:Wear full camouflage clothing, including headwear and gloves, to blend in with your surroundings.
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Check your gear:Be mindful of even small details like the color of your socks, belt, or backpack straps.
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Stay safe:If you see another hunter, always call out to identify yourself clearly.
Do turkeys have binocular vision?
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.
Can a wild turkey see in all directions?
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.)
Why do turkeys change their head color?
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. In the 1992 book, Dr. Dickson points out that in addition to their regular outer eyelids, wild turkeys have translucent inner eyelids.
How often do turkeys close their eyes?
“Close observation of 8 imprinted adult [turkeys] of both sexes by the first author showed a frequency of 78 to 92 closings per minute of this third eyelid,” Dickson wrote, referring to a study conducted in 1967. In this sense, a turkey’s eyeballs are like a pair of self-cleaning optics.
Do turkeys have a good sense of hearing?
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.
Do turkeys turn their heads constantly?
But as most turkey hunters know, this is rarely the case. “If you pay attention, [turkeys] turn their heads constantly.