A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wild Ideas: Turkeys

Wild turkey are talkers. Tom turkeys are known for gobbling, their way of saying, "gather round ladies, stay away boys!" But they communicate with each other in a variety of other ways.

Hens and gobblers cackle as they fly down from their treetop roosts in the morning. While contented in traveling on foot with their flock, turkeys make a soft purring call. Turkeys separated from their flock give a long series of yelps. "Here I am, where are you?" 

As the days get longer and warmer, toms put on a show to attract hens. A strutting gobbler fans out his tail feathers like a peacock and gives a "chomp" sound followed by a low hum. The source of the sound is a bit of a mystery. 

You can learn more about why gobbling turkeys get hens and hunters so excited each spring at the Arkansas Wildlife YouTube channel.

Join Kirsten Bartlow for Wild Ideas as she explores wildlife and conservation topics across Arkansas—from the Ozark Mountains to the Delta bayous.