10 Surprising Turkey Facts You Didn’t Know (But Should)

It’s common for many people to forget about turkeys for most of the year until Thanksgiving comes around, but the fact is that wild and domesticated turkeys are among the most interesting birds on the planet. Did you know that their heads change color based on how they’re feeling or that they can purr like cats? We bet there’s a lot you don’t know. To help you out, we have composed this list of 10 facts about turkeys that you can use to impress your friends any time of year.

A Turkey Has Over 5,000 Feathers

Our list of facts about turkeys begins with the stunning reality that the average turkey has between 5,000 and 6,000 feathers. There are layers upon layers of plumage and feathers of different sizes, and they offer a number of benefits. They help with waterproofing in wet forests, insulate the turkey from the cold, and are essential for males during mating season. Males are mostly distinguished by their larger size and their blue, red, and white heads. They attract mates by putting on elaborate displays, fanning their tails, and puffing out their feathers. They also make a variety of vocalizations. 

Turkeys Purr Like Cats

Most people know that turkeys are famous for their vocalizations, such as “gobble, gobble” or “cluck,” but they do much more than that. For instance, did you know that turkeys are also known to purr? Don’t believe it? Check out this example. Technically, the purring sound is a rolling call that is relatively quiet. Just like with cats, turkeys typically make the sound when they’re happy and content. Turkeys are actually very vocal birds. When wild turkeys feel they are in danger, they can make a putt sound, which is a single note that serves as an alarm. Turkeys nesting in trees will often make a tree call, which is a series of muffled yelps.

Turkeys Roost in Trees

In case you missed the point mentioned in the last fact, it’s true that turkeys spend a lot of time hanging out in trees. When nighttime comes around, turkeys will find high places to spend the evening so they can stay out of reach of predators. They typically choose trees, though they have been known to relax on rooftops and rafters. Sometimes, a turkey will move from tree to tree during the night if it believes their current perch isn’t safe. Common predators of turkeys include land animals, such as coyotes, raccoons, and foxes. Flying creatures, such as owls, eagles, and hawks, can also attack. When dawn breaks, the turkeys awaken, often vocalize to other nearby turkeys, and then fly down to the ground.

The Snood on the Turkey’s Beak Serves Many Purposes

Besides their colorful plumage, one of the most distinctive attributes of wild turkeys is the odd-looking snood that hangs off their beaks. That snood is far more than just a part of their appearance. In fact, it serves many purposes. It is instrumental in attracting females during the mating season. It also helps to keep the turkey cool and dissipate heat in hot weather. You can also tell a lot about a turkey’s mood by its snood. When the snood is red and erect, it means it’s in a more passive mood. However, when it elongates and dangles further down, more blood is flowing to the head, which indicates the turkey is feeling better and may be ready to perform a mating ritual or get into a fight. When the snood quickly shrivels up, it means the turkey is alert to danger.

A Turkey’s Head Changes Color

Wild turkeys are more complex than they first appear. In addition to the changes in its snood, a turkey’s head can also change color depending on its mood. This is possible due to bundles of collagen that are mixed with a dense array of blood vessels. As a result, their heads can change to blue, red, or white. A light blue or white head generally means the turkey is feeling dominant. Red means the turkey is being submissive, fearful, or worried. People often use these colors to strategize when hunting turkeys.

Most Turkeys Run Faster Than People

Turkeys can move remarkably fast. Though they are among some of the largest birds, they can run very quickly, typically up to around 25 miles per hour. By comparison, the average human male runs at less than six miles per hour. Turkeys are also quite agile in the air. Most sources state that turkeys can fly 35 miles per hour, while others claim they can reach 50 miles per hour in flight. 

Turkeys Can Attack People

While wild turkey populations remain robust in many areas, recent years have seen stable or declining numbers in some regions. It is still not uncommon to see groups of wild turkeys in cities and towns, especially during the spring season.

However, if you see a turkey, you should probably leave it alone because turkeys can often be aggressive toward humans. That’s because the spring season is also the turkey’s mating season, so the birds may act out in a show of dominance. This is especially true for domesticated turkeys, which are more accustomed to humans. Their “attacks” mostly consist of trying to peck or chase people around while gobbling or making other vocalizations. The best way to avoid any potential confrontation is to give the turkey some space and move on with your day. If a turkey is causing you problems and won’t go away, experts recommend running toward it with your arms up so you appear larger. Eventually, the turkey will probably run away or lose interest.

Turkeys Are as American as Apple Pie

Turkeys have been an important part of American history for a long time. When our country was first founded, Benjamin Franklin half-joked, half-hinted that he thought the turkey should be the national bird of America. It wasn’t taken seriously, and the bald eagle received the honor instead. For many years, the president of the United States has annually pardoned a turkey on Thanksgiving, giving it another chance at life. Though there are different theories about the origin of this routine, most historians believe the first pardoned turkey was thanks to Tad Lincoln, who asked his father, President Abraham Lincoln, to pardon a turkey that year. However, the routine became mainstream in 1947 when President Harry Truman repeated the routine, and it has been a tradition ever since. 

Turkeys Almost Went Extinct

The American settlers first started hunting turkeys way back in the 1600s because they were plentiful on the land and relatively easy to hunt. The settlers also began clearing forests to make farmland, which hurt the turkey population. By 1813, things had escalated so much that the state of Connecticut had lost its turkey population. Hunting continued to get out of control, and by 1920, it’s believed that 18 out of the existing 39 states had lost their turkey populations, leaving only about 2%—or about 200,000—of the remaining turkeys alive. Luckily, conservation efforts began in the 1940s, and the population was brought back.

A Group of Turkeys is Called a Rafter

Finally, we conclude our list of facts about turkeys by telling you about the many names associated with wild turkeys. Like many other birds, you can call a group of turkeys a flock, and you’d be technically correct. However, it goes deeper than that. For many years, a group of domesticated turkeys has been known as a rafter. Some farmers still use that name today. You may also hear some folks refer to a group of turkeys as a mob or a gang.

The naming is also a bit more complicated when it comes to young turkeys. Technically, a baby wild turkey can be referred to as a chick, just like a baby chicken. However, the more common name for a domesticated baby turkey is ‘poult.’ The name ‘poult’ can be used for the young of any domesticated fowl commonly raised for food.

Whatever you call them, remember that turkeys are considered among the most important birds in our nation today, and they’ve held a special place in the hearts of the people who have inhabited the country for generations. If you see one in the wild, respect the bird and enjoy it from a distance so it can live a long and happy life.