As fall approaches and turkey hunting seasons start to open up, one of the key skills hunters need is learning how to identify hens and distinguish them from male turkeys. Being able to positively identify the sex of a turkey based on physical characteristics, sounds and behaviors is crucial for ethical, legal hunts. Read on for a comprehensive guide on exactly what a hen turkey looks like and how to tell them apart from gobblers.
Size and Shape
Hens are smaller and less bulky compared to male turkeys, but still large birds, averaging 10-14 pounds in weight and around 4 feet long. They have a rounded, compact body shape on top of slim legs that are longer in proportion to their body than on males.
Plumage
The feathers of hen turkeys are overall brownish-gray with finely barred black banding throughout. When hit by sunlight, the tips of feathers can show some copper or bronze iridescence. This muted coloration pattern provides excellent camouflage.
Head
The head of a hen is smaller and blueish-gray in color compared to a male’s bright red and blue colored head. A hen’s head is also only partially feathered lacking the prominent fleshy wattles and caruncles present on a male’s head.
Beard
While some hen turkeys may occasionally have a small beard (around 6-8 inches long), the presence of a long, thick beard protruding from the chest is much less common in hens than gobblers. Lack of a prominent beard is a key sign it may be a female.
Tail
Hens have a shorter, rectangular-shaped tail that averages around 15 inches in length – much shorter than the extravagant, fanned tail of a male turkey. The underside of the tail may show some coppery or bronze sheen when hit by sunlight
Sounds
Hen turkeys also make distinct vocalizations compared to males:
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Clucks – Short, low-pitched one or two note calls used to communicate with poults and other flock members.
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Purrs and whines – Softer calls that indicate contentment or anxiety.
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Cackles – A loud, fast cackle indicates alarm or alerts to danger.
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Yelps – High-pitched, elongated call used primarily for locating lost poults or flock members.
Hens do not make the deep gobbling sound male turkeys are known for.
Habitat and Behavior
Hen turkeys occupy diverse habitats from forests to swamps, but favor areas with dense cover for nesting and open spaces for feeding. They forage on the ground for food like seeds, nuts, berries and insects.
Hens form loose flocks that may intermingle with males outside of breeding season. In spring and summer, they break away from flocks to nest and lay eggs. Hens are dedicated mothers, fiercely protecting their nests and young poults.
Though capable of short flights, hens spend most of their time on the ground. When threatened, they prefer to run or take cover rather than flying upwards into trees.
Identification Tips
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Focus on muted plumage patterns compared to the male’s metallic sheen.
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Note bluish-gray head and lack of wattles.
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Listen for high-pitched clucks, purrs and cackles.
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Watch for nesting behaviors and associations with poults.
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Remember key differences like smaller size, lack of spurs and fanned tail.
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Look for them pecking along forest floors or hiding in thickets.
With practice, hunters and birdwatchers alike can master the nuanced art of positively identifying female wild turkeys. It takes close observation but brings immense satisfaction being able to appreciate the remarkable adaptations of the hen turkey.
The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape Wild Turkeys are very large, plump birds with long legs, wide, rounded tails, and a small head on a long, slim neck.
Relative Size
One of our largest and heaviest birds; smaller than a Trumpeter Swan; about twice the size (and four times as heavy) as a Ring-necked Pheasant.
goose-sized or largerMeasurements
- Both Sexes
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- Length: 43.3-45.3 in (110-115 cm)
- Weight: 88.2-381.0 oz (2500-10800 g)
- Wingspan: 49.2-56.7 in (125-144 cm)
© D. Bruce Yolton / Macaulay Library
- Color PatternTurkeys are dark overall with a bronze-green iridescence to most of their plumage. Their wings are dark, boldly barred with white. Their rump and tail feathers are broadly tipped with rusty or white. The bare skin of the head and neck varies from red to blue to gray.
© Brian McKenney / Macaulay Library
- BehaviorTurkeys travel in flocks and search on the ground for nuts, berries, insects, and snails. They use their strong feet to scratch leaf litter out of the way. In early spring, males gather in clearings to perform courtship displays. They puff up their body feathers, flare their tails into a vertical fan, and strut slowly while giving a characteristic gobbling call. At night, turkeys fly up into trees to roost in groups.© Tim Laman / Macaulay Library
- HabitatWild Turkeys live in mature forests, particularly nut trees such as oak, hickory, or beech, interspersed with edges and fields. You may also see them along roads and in woodsy backyards. After being hunted out of large parts of their range, turkeys were reintroduced and are numerous once again.
© Michael J Good / Macaulay Library
Wild Turkeys in the Rocky Mountains tend to have whitish tips to the rump and tail feathers, whereas other populations have rusty or chestnut tail tips.
Adult male (Western group)
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Turkey Identification – Turkey Hunting for Beginners
FAQ
How do you tell if a turkey is a hen?
But the easiest and quickest way to identify your first year toms from your hens (even in the wild) is their chest feathers!! Once their chest feathers come in, toms have the more showy bronzed feathers with black tips and the hens have the more dull feathers with white tips!!
What’s the difference between a hen turkey and a tom turkey?
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 does a wild turkey hen look like?
The white skull cap on the gobbler is distinct, as is the presence of leg spurs and prominent red wattles on the neck. The body coloration of a gobbler is distinctly dark, almost black. In contrast, hens have a smaller, bluish-gray head, lack spurs and prominent wattles, and are brownish in appearance.
Are hen turkeys good to eat?
Most experts agree that a hen turkey is a better buy than a tom. Hens are generally weigh less than 16 pounds and a tom turkey is usually over 16 pounds. Toms are larger with larger bones and less edible portions. However, age not gender is the determining factor where tenderness is concerned.
What does a hen turkey look like?
Tail: Rectangular shape and averages around 15 inches long, much shorter than the male’s extravagant, fanned tail. Underside may have a coppery sheen. In addition to visual cues, hen turkeys make distinct calls that can aid in identification: Clucks – Short, low-pitched one or two note calls used to communicate with chicks and other flock members.
How do Turkey hens distinguish males from females?
Males’ feces can be distinguished from females’ due to its spiral shape. In spring, mature turkey hens determine the timing of breeding. Toms begin their cacophonous gobbling sounds, alerting other males and females. In addition to gobbling, toms make elaborate displays to attract females.
Is a female wild turkey a hen?
A Guide to Identifying Female Wild Turkeys For any avid birdwatcher or outdoor enthusiast, few sights evoke more excitement than spotting a wild turkey strutting through the woods But while the male turkey, or tom, displays vibrant plumage and pronounced features, the female of the species, known as the hen, can be more elusive.
What do Hen turkeys eat?
Hen turkeys occupy diverse habitats from forests to swamps, but favor areas with dense cover for nesting and open spaces for feeding. They forage on the ground for food like nuts, seeds, berries, insects and occasionally small vertebrates. Hens form loose flocks that sometimes intermingle with males outside breeding season.
What does a wild turkey look like?
Wild Turkeys in the Rocky Mountains tend to have whitish tips to the rump and tail feathers, whereas other populations have rusty or chestnut tail tips. Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape
How do kids identify turkeys?
Most North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. These big, spectacular birds are an increasingly common sight the rest of the year, too, as flocks stride around woods and clearings like miniature dinosaurs.