Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

We woke to the sound of a wild turkey in our woods this morning. In early spring male turkeys (gobblers or toms) gobble to announce their presence to females and competing males. Supposedly you can hear them from up to a mile away. It’s a very rare treat to see a male in display, but we have a few times.

We often see wild turkeys on our property in the spring and fall – females for the most part – sometimes alone and sometimes in groups.

Wild turkeys aren’t as large as there domesticated cousins - the average adult male only goes about 18 lbs.

There’s an interesting characteristic of domestic turkeys that my daughter and I discovered with the flock in Shakertown. If you whistle the right note they will gobble in response – they just can’t help themselves!