Only Male Turkeys Gobble Myth

Male “tom” turkeys and female “hen” turkeys both “gobble”, but typically male turkeys “gobble” while female turkeys make a sound more like “yelp”.

FACT: Male turkeys are sometimes called “toms” or “gobblers”. This is because they are typically the ones who make a gobbling sound, but it’s a myth that they are the only ones who can gobble.

Why Do Turkeys Gobble?

Male turkeys gobble to announce their presence to females (hens) and competing males. Hens typically make a sound like “yelp” rather than one like gobble, but sometimes male turkeys yelp and hens gobble.^[1]

FACT: A turkey’s gobble can carry over a mile.

What Other Sounds Do Turkeys Make?

Adult turkeys also make a number of other noises including those that sound like “clucks”, “putts”, “purrs”, “yelps”, “cutts”, “whines”, “cackles”, and “kee-kees”.^[1]

While male turkeys tend to make “gobble” sounds and females tend to make “yelp” sounds, all turkeys (male or female) gobble.

1. “Wild turkey“. Wikipedia.org. Nov 25, 2015.