The gobble of a wild turkey is one of the most iconic and exciting sounds of the spring woods. When a big tom turkey stretches his neck, puffs out his feathers, and lets out a thunderous gobble, it sends a jolt of adrenaline through turkey hunters and nature lovers alike.
But what exactly does a turkey’s gobble sound like? And what does it mean when a turkey gobbles? Let’s take a closer look at the unique vocalization of the male wild turkey.
The Anatomy of a Gobble
A male turkey’s gobble is a loud, rapid gurgling sound that lasts about 1 second on average. It is one of the principal vocalizations used by male turkeys also known as toms or gobblers.
The gobble is produced by the syrinx, a specialized vocal organ located where the trachea splits into two bronchi. The syrinx contains membranes that vibrate rapidly when air from the lungs passes over them, creating the unique gargling sound.
When a tom turkey gobbles the sound begins low and rises rapidly in pitch toward the end. The tempo also quickens as the gobble progresses. It has been described as sounding like a loud, excited chuckle.
An average gobble is only about 1 second long. However, dominant male turkeys may link together a series of gobbles into a longer sequence, with each gobble lasting up to 3 seconds. This “gobbling run” announces the presence of a boss tom in the area.
When and Why Turkeys Gobble
Male turkeys gobble at various times throughout the year for different reasons:
-
Spring breeding season – Gobbling announces a male turkey’s presence to females in the area and warns rival males away. Toms often gobble before flying down from the roost in the morning, and then periodically throughout the day to attract hens.
-
Establishing dominance – The boss gobbler in an area will often gobble vigorously and repeatedly to assert his dominance over other males.
-
Responding to calls – Toms may gobble excitedly in response to hearing the calls of hens or the gobbling of rival males nearby. This helps them pinpoint the location of other turkeys.
-
Roosting – Some toms will gobble from the roost before nightfall or after fly-up in the morning, This may help attract hens or communicate with other roosted males,
In the fall and winter, male turkeys gobble much less frequently. But they may still occasionally gobble in response to flock calls or when re-establishing dominance after the breeding season.
Regional Differences in Gobbles
While all wild turkeys produce the same basic gobble vocalization, there are some subtle differences between the various subspecies:
-
Eastern wild turkey – The classic gobble sound we think of, with a loud, rapid gurgle. Eastern toms often link gobbles together into a series when demonstrating dominance.
-
Rio Grande wild turkey – Slightly higher pitched and more drawn out, with a less crisp ending. Rio Grande gobbles also do not run together as often.
-
Merriam’s wild turkey – Intermediate gobble with characteristics of both Rio Grande and Eastern. The ending tends to be more clipped than a Rio Grande but not as sharp as an Eastern gobble.
-
Osceola wild turkey – Similar to the Eastern gobble but at a slightly lower pitch on average. Osceola gobbles may also be less likely to run together in a series.
-
Gould’s wild turkey – Distinctive gobble that starts with an intense initial note and then drops sharply in pitch. Gould’s toms have a more limited gobbling vocabulary overall.
Regardless of the subspecies, every mature male turkey’s gobble is unique and can be differentiated by subtle variations in tone, pitch, and cadence. Experienced turkey hunters often claim they can identify a specific dominant tom just by his distinctive gobble.
Imitating a Gobble for Hunting
One of the most challenging skills in turkey hunting is mimicking the sound of a real turkey gobble. This can be useful for shocking nearby toms into gobbling themselves, so the hunter can pinpoint their location. Turkey hunters use various calls and techniques to imitate a gobble:
-
Mouth calls – Specially designed mouth-operated friction calls allow hunters to mimic turkeys. With practice, skilled hunters can closely replicate a tom’s excited gobble.
-
Box calls – These wooden box calls use a paddle against the box’s sounding board to produce turkey sounds. In the right hands, box calls can sound very realistic.
-
Push-button calls – These electronic calls have a speaker inside a housing with a button that plays a recorded gobble when pressed. They provide convenience but lack versatility.
-
Hands and voice – With no equipment, experienced hunters can use their hands cupped behind their mouth and vocal cord manipulation to mimic a passable gobble.
While nothing fully captures the essence of a wild turkey’s thundering gobble, hunters use these various turkey calling techniques to put themselves in position for an exhilarating experience with the king of spring in the American woods.
A male wild turkey’s gobble is a boisterous, one-of-a-kind sound that epitomizes the spirit of spring for hunters and birdwatchers. With practice, turkey hunters learn to interpret the exciting variations in pitch, tempo, and frequency of gobbles to decipher a tom turkey’s mood, dominance status, and proximity. The gobble’s role in turkey breeding behavior and communication makes it one of nature’s great vocal performances. Its unmistakable sound will continue to electrify all who are fortunate enough to hear a lusty tom turkey welcome in a new spring.
There are a wide variety of different sounds or vocalizations made by wild turkeys. Listen to them here.
There are many factors that go into successfully hunting wild turkeys, including calling them at the right place at the right time. Knowing the distinctly different sounds wild turkeys make in specific situations will increase you chances for a successful harvest and make you an all-around better wild turkey hunter.
Sounds courtesy of Denny Gulvas of Gulvas Wildlife Adventures.
The adult hen assembly call is a series of loud yelps, usually a little more emphatic and longer than a standard series of yelps. The assembly yelp is used by a hen to assemble her flock or young poults. It is a good call in the fall when trying to call a scattered flock back together. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck often includes two or three single note clucks. Its generally used by one bird to get the attention of another and a good call to reassure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him. This is a great call while trying to encourage gobbler to come into range if he starts to hang up. It can also be used while birds are still on the roost to subtly let a gobbler know you are there. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The cluck and purr is a cluck followed by a rolling, almost staccato call. It is often associated with flock talk or the feeling of contentment. Typically not a loud call, though sometimes it can be amplified, it is good for reassuring turkeys as they get close to your position. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Loud, sharp clucks that are often mixed with yelping. Cutting is a sign that turkeys are excited, not alarmed. Cutting has several uses in hunting. If a gobbler is henned up, and one of the hens is cutting, you can cutt back in an attempt to bring her to you. You will want to mimic her calls, while cutting off her vocalizations and being a bit more excited. The goal with this tactic is to lure a dominate hen to you for a fight, often times bringing the gobbler with her. You can also cutt when you have tried soft calling to a gobbler that is hung up. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Similar sounds and notes as a plain yelp but much more excited, rapid and with more volume. This is not a sign of alarm, but indicates that a turkey is worked up about something. If a gobbler is henned up, you might be able to bring him to you by picking a fight with the dominate hen in the flock. Yelp at her excitedly, cut off her vocalizations with your own calls and you might lure the hen, and the gobbler with her, to you. You can also use an excited yelp when you have tried soft calling to a gobbler that is hung up. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Fly Down or Fly-up Cackle
A cackle usually consists of three to 10 irregularly spaced notes, loud and staccato, increasing in pitch as the call nears its end. The cackle is generally associated with leaving the roost, but can also be heard when a bird is flying up to a roost. A fly-down cackle is good call to tell a gobbler that a hen is on the ground. However, a fly-down cackle often works best if the gobbler is already on the ground before you call. Otherwise, the tom may stay on the roost; waiting for what he thinks is a hen turkey to come to him before he flies down. A fly-up cackle can also be a good tool when trying to locate roosted toms, as it may get a roosted tom to gobble. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The gobble is a loud, rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys. The gobble is one of the principal vocalizations of the male wild turkey and is used primarily in the spring to let hens know he is in the area. Hunters must be cautious using a gobble, especially on public land where it may attract fellow hunters to your position. It can also be a double-edged sword. A gobble may draw a dominate tom to you looking for a fight or you might drive away less dominant birds who want to avoid a beating. It is often used as a call of last resort. However, it can also be used effectively late in the evening when trying to get a tom to gobble on the roost. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The kee kee is usually a three-note call that lasts about two seconds. A variation of the call, the kee kee run, is merely a kee kee followed by a yelp. The kee kee is the call of lost young turkeys and variations are also made by adult birds. Its often associated with fall hunting and is used to reassemble a scattered flock. It can be used in the spring to make you sound more natural – especially on public land where it may set you apart from all the other hunters using yelps and cutts. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The plain yelp of a hen is a basic turkey sound and is often delivered in a series of single note vocalizations. The plain yelp can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it, but it is basic turkey communication. It is also commonly used by a hen to communicate with a gobbler during mating season. This is a basic turkey hunting call. If you can yelp, you have a chance of being able to call in a turkey. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It is a low vocal communication designed to keep the turkeys in touch and often is made by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get close to your position. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The putt is a single or several sharp notes. The putt is generally associated as an alarm and usually means the bird has seen or heard something and is signaling danger. This can be useful when you have a gobbler in range, but cant get him to raise his head or stop. However, before putting at a gobbler it is best to have your shotgun ready and on target. Once you raise the alarm by putting, you will have little time to shoot and the bird will take off at the slightest movement. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
The tree call is a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird that sometimes picks up in volume as fly down time nears. Maybe accompanied by soft clucking. It is generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock. It can be used to let a gobbler on the roost know you are there. Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Wild Turkey Gobble – Use This Sound While Hunting
FAQ
How to tell if a turkey is a gobbler?
Typical gobbler in summer. Look for darker body and more brightly colored head than hens and poults. Adults gobblers almost always have a 6+ inch beard.
What time of year do turkeys gobble?
- Spring: Male turkeys, or gobblers, gobble to attract hens and ward off other gobblers. This is the peak gobbling season.
- Late summer: Turkeys sometimes gobble during the late summer months.
- Winter: Warm days in January and other winter months can cause turkeys to gobble.
- After breeding: Gobblers may gobble all day long in search of hens that are no longer interested in breeding.
What sound does a turkey make?
A turkey gobble is the best-known turkey sound. The gobble is the turkey version of crowing. When a turkey gobbles, they make loud gurgling sounds. This is one of the most recognized sounds these birds make. However, they usually gobble in the spring when the male announces to the females that he is close by.
What does a Turkey gobble sound like?
The gobble is likely the most well-known of all turkey calls. This is a loud, rapid sound with a gritty quality, sounding almost as if the turkey is gargling. Only male turkeys gobble, which is why they are known as gobblers (or toms). A turkey will gobble most often in the spring. This is his way of letting females know he is nearby.
Why do turkeys make a gobble call?
Turkey sounds are specific to the age, gender, and function of the sound. Most people think that every turkey makes the gobble call because they are familiar with it. Humans rarely hear most of the sounds made by wild turkeys. For communication purposes, they have developed a distinctive set of sounds.
Do turkeys gobble?
Only male turkeys gobble, which is why they are known as gobblers (or toms). A turkey will gobble most often in the spring. This is his way of letting females know he is nearby. Although male turkeys are able to make a variety of sounds, the gobble is their main means of communication. Only male turkeys will gobble.
Do turkeys make a gurgling sound?
There is a myth that only male turkeys can make the gobble sound; however, hens can make the loud, rapid gurgling, just as chicken hens can crow. A purr is a low, soft, rolling sound, like a kitten’s purr. A contented kitten will make a soft purring sound. A contented turkey also makes a soft purring sound.
Why does a Turkey Gobble a Yelp?
A turkey will gobble most often in the spring. This is his way of letting females know he is nearby. Although male turkeys are able to make a variety of sounds, the gobble is their main means of communication. Only male turkeys will gobble. The yelp is the primary call of the female turkey, known as the hen. There is no single meaning to this call.