Is a Male Turkey Called a Tom? Exploring the Fascinating World of Turkey Terminology
For those who delight in observing and learning about our avian neighbors, the vibrant world of turkeys offers much to discover. From their impressive mating displays to their varied vocalizations, turkeys showcase a diverse range of captivating behaviors and characteristics. One interesting aspect of turkey terminology that often arises is the use of “tom” to refer to adult male turkeys. But why is a male turkey called a tom? Let’s take a closer look at the intriguing conventions behind turkey terminology.
The Origins of “Tom Turkey”The use of “tom” to describe male turkeys dates back centuries with the first known use appearing in the late 1600s. But the origins of this distinctive descriptor remain uncertain. Some posit that it may have arisen from comparisons between strutting male turkeys and strutting male humans named Tom. Others suggest it could relate to a propensity for male turkeys to “tom” about while displaying to females. Regardless of the impetus “tom turkey” became a firmly established term by the 1700s and remains in common use today.
Alternative Names for the Adult Male TurkeyWhile “tom” may be the most ubiquitous identifier, male turkeys go by various other monikers as well. Other frequently employed options include gobbler, cock, and stag.
“Gobbler” connects to the male turkey’s most iconic vocalization, the resonant gobble. This far-reaching call plays a key role in the breeding rituals of wild turkeys, allowing males to attract mates and announce their presence on a given territory. With the ability to carry for over a mile, the gobble aptly lends its name to the male turkey capable of producing such a powerful vocalization.
“Cock” represents a more generalized bird name, analogous to calling a male chicken a rooster. This ties in with the taxonomic classification of turkeys in the same phylum as chickens, highlighting their shared ancestry.
Finally, “stag” draws a parallel between the male turkey’s mating behaviors and role as compared to male deer, known as stags. This comparison likely arose from observations of male turkeys establishing dominance, displaying competitively, and building harems of females within a flock.
Colloquial and Colorful Options
In addition to the standard alternatives of tom, gobbler, cock, and stag, colorful colloquialisms also exist for the adult male turkey. Some examples include the descriptive “strutter” and “gobbling turkey”, both of which emphasize common courtship behaviors. Regional terms like “bubbler”, “mister tom”, and “lord of the manor” add a touch of anthropomorphism and personality to the mix as well.
The Hen as the Adult Female Counterpart
Just as toms represent the adult male turkeys, hens describe the mature female contingent of a flock. Turkey hens are smaller in stature than males, with duller plumage of brown, gray, or buff. Hens incubate eggs, raise young poults, and fill out the remainder of the flock outside of the dominant males. Juvenile turkeys are known as jakes (males) and jennies (females), graduating to tom and hen status upon reaching adulthood.
Naming Conventions in Domestic Varieties
Within domestic turkey breeds, male terminology remains largely consistent with conventions for wild turkeys. The Broad Breasted White turkey, for example, is one of the most commonly raised domestic varieties in the United States and males are referred to as toms. Heritage breeds like the Narragansett turkey also follow this naming practice.
One exception lies with the Beltsville Small White turkey breed – originally developed for small-scale poultry production by the USDA in the early 1930s. In a divergence from most turkey terminology, male Beltsvilles are called “cockerels” rather than “toms”. But outside of this sole outlier, the standard “tom turkey” phrasing holds firm across domestic turkey varieties.
Why Proper Terminology Matters
Using accurate terminology is an important way to enrich knowledge of turkey behavior and biology. By understanding the meaning and origins behind names like tom and hen, we can more fully appreciate the characteristics and ecosystem roles of these iconic birds. Whether discussing the booming gobble of a strutting tom or admiring the dedicated mothering of a nesting hen, proper turkey terminology conveys deeper significance and context.
Within the poultry industry, applying proper labels also supports effective management practices. For turkey farmers, knowing how to accurately identify and handle toms, hens, and poults facilitates tasks like segregating flocks by sex, tracking growth metrics, and inspecting birds for health concerns. Employing correct terminology here underpins smooth operations from the hatchery to the processing plant.
And for those involved in conservation work, precise language enables clear communication about wild turkey populations and behaviors being studied and protected. From writing grant proposals to creating public outreach content, specific turkey terminology is key for conveying research significance and goals.
The Value of Understanding Turkey Terminology
Whether spoken in a farmer’s barnyard or a naturalist’s field notes, proper turkey terminology conveys deeper meaning and enables more effective communication. The next time you encounter these engaging birds, take a moment to appreciate the rich diversity encompassed within their naming conventions. And when someone asks “Is a male turkey called a tom?”, you can delve into the fascinating linguistic traditions behind this iconic American bird. From their flamboyant courtship displays to their varied vocalizations, the vibrant essence of turkeys comes through in the colorful terminology we use to describe them. What a tom turkey lacks in song, he makes up for in personality – and unique nomenclature that captures his spirited nature.
Turkey Basics-Gobblers and Hens
Let’s begin with the basics of distinguishing male wild turkeys (gobblers) from females (hens).
Gobblers are larger-bodied birds, with a darker coloration, at times appearing almost black. In bright sunlight, their feathers cast a brilliant bronze or metallic iridescence. Gobblers have a featherless, red head (sometimes with blue and white coloring, too) with prominent wattle and fleshy, red growths (called caruncles) on their neck. They also have a “beard”—a tuft of black, hair-like strands—protruding from their chest.
On adult gobblers (called toms), the beard can be 7-9 inches or more in length, but on young gobblers (called jakes) the beard is <6 inches long. Typically, gobblers hang out away from hens during the summer since they take no part in raising young.
Hens are more brown in coloration and smaller in size than gobblers. They have a head that is more blue-gray in appearance, often with feathers continuing up the back of the head.
Occasionally hens will have a beard, but it is thinner than on gobblers and is quite often kinked. Hens can also have some feather iridescence, but not to the same extent as gobblers.
How many gobblers and hens do you see in this picture?
2 gobblers (both jakes, note the larger size, less-feathered red heads, and tiny stubble of a beard protruding from the chest of the jake on the right), 4 hens (one mostly hidden behind a jake, but you still can clearly see the typical head of a hen turkey poking out), 1 unknown. If we were here in person live, the birds would move about and we could probably determine that the unknown is another jake, but given what we can see in this photo, it’s best to just call this partially obstructed bird an unknown.
Poults develop very quickly (they must in order not to be eaten!) and feather types, appearance, and body size change rapidly as they age. Based on these characteristics, we can estimate the age of poults. For simplicity, we divide poults into three age classes.
1 week old or younger. Poults that are no more than about a week old are still covered with downy feathers and are very small (<5-6 inches tall). They look like little puff balls about the size of your fist.
Turkey Poult Class 1
2-5 weeks old. Poults in this class have grown longer wing feathers, but still are mostly covered with downy feathers on their body and still lack long tail feathers. They are about 6-10 inches tall, similar in size to a Blue Jay. In appearance, they look to be all wings (which is good because it means now they can fly into low trees to escape ground predators). Poults on the older end of this age class will have started to grow some juvenile plumage on their bodies, but still have short tail feathers.
Hen with class 2 age group poults
Hen with older class 2 age-group poult (borderline class 3)
Hen with class 2 age group poults
6-8 weeks or older. Poults early in this stage still have some down feathers occurring on the neck and head, but their body is covered with juvenile type contour feathers. They have visible tail feathers now, black-and-white barred wing feathers are emerging, and they stand about 10-12 inches tall, similar in size to a crow or a chicken. By about 8 weeks of age, poults are beginning to grow new “adult” looking body feathers and will have a mixture of juvenile feathers and adult feathers on their body. They are about half the size of the hen and will continue to grow to almost the same size as the hen by the end of the summer. Turkey Poults
Because they are very similar in size, late in the summer it can be very challenging to determine if a group of similar-sized turkeys is a flock of hens without poults or a hen and her older-age-class brood. If you’re unsure, it’s best to mark them as unknowns.
Toms vs. hens
FAQ
Why is male turkey called Tom?
But Thomas Jefferson opposed him. It is believed that Franklin named the male turkey “tom” to spite Jefferson.Nov 20, 2020
What are male turkeys called?
- Toms: The term “tom” is used to refer to adult male turkeys.
- Gobblers: The term “gobbler” is used to refer to adult male turkeys because of their famous call. The gobble is a loud, throaty, descending sound that lasts about a second.
- Jakes: The term “jake” is used to refer to juvenile male turkeys.
How do you tell if a turkey is a tom or a hen?
Toms are larger, heavier, have more red in their heads, larger, darker chronicles, a different sound, and Bald. Hens have a row of feathers up the back of their heads. If they are not white, feather color should also be different! Can you post pictures? With a mix breed it might be difficult with feathering!
What is the slang for a male turkey?
Gobbler – This is the adult male of the turkey species. This bird can weigh upwards of 25 plus pounds and has a beard that grows out of his chest along with spurs on his lower legs. The spur length signifies his age.
Is a Turkey a hen or a Tom?
The sex designation of “hen” (female) or “tom” (male) turkey is optional on the label, and is an indication of size. Toms are larger but both toms and hens should be equally tender. What is the slang for a male turkey?
What is a male Turkey called?
Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers. They weigh from 18 to as much as 25 pounds and are almost 3 feet tall, making them significantly larger than females. Adult toms boast featherless red, blue or white skin on their heads; the color changes as males grow excited.
What does Tom mean in a Turkey name?
It may be an abbreviation of the word “tombull” which was one old term used for male turkeys. Whatever its exact origin, the usage of “tom” to refer to male turkeys has been around since at least the 1700s. Other folksy rural names used historically include “gobbler,” “master gobbler,” and “strutter.”
What is the difference between a male and a female Turkey?
Turkey males are called toms or gobblers, and females are called hens. Mature males and females are easily distinguished from each other. Turkey are large birds of North American origin. Males, called toms or gobblers, are much larger than females. Males boast dark iridescent plumage; large, fanning tails; prominent snoods; and wattles.
What is the difference between a hen and a Tom?
Hens are female turkeys, and toms are males. Toms are, on average, larger. So, if you’re going for a turkey over 18 pounds, you’ll likely end up with a tom, whereas if you’re looking for a turkey 14 pounds or under, you’re likely to buy a hen. The only significant difference between hens and toms is their size. What is a turkey’s beard called?
Do male turkeys gobble?
Only the adult male turkey, or tom, makes the gobbler, gobble sound. The female or hen turkey makes a gentle clucking or clicking sound. The adult male is called the ‘tom’ turkey. Why is a male turkey called a tom? Since turkeys are not cats, the phrase was shortened simply to ‘tom’.