Sounds of the Wild Turkey
North America's greatest gamebird struts its stuff. The wild turkey
is one of the most vocal animals in the woods. Select below from the individual
calls of the wild turkey or listen in on a beautiful morning in the wild turkey
woods. Please credit the National Wild Turkey Federation wherever sounds are used.
(Note: all sound files are in MP3 format.)
Download to My Computer:
- Click the image to download
- Right click (or hold-click on the Mac) on the audio file
- Select "Save Link As." from the drop-down menu
Should you have any questions about the photos or their use, please contact
the NWTF for assistance by calling (803) 637-3106.
Morning in the Wild Turkey Woods
There is nothing like spring in the turkey woods. Dawn breaks and the woods come
alive with activity. For more information on these sounds, contact the NWTF.
Cluck
The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck, many
times, includes two or three single note clucks. It's generally used by one bird
to get the attention of another. It's a good call to reasure an approaching gobbler
that a hen is waiting for him.
Putt
The putt is a single note, generally associated as an alarm, could be several
notes sharp or rapid fashion, usually means they have seen or heard something,
means danger.
Tree Call
The tree call is usually a series of soft muffled yelps given by a roosted bird.
Sometimes it picks up in volume as fly down time nears. Maybe accompanied by soft
clucking. Generally acknowledged as a call to communicate with others in a flock.
Plain Yelp of Hen
The yelp is a basic turkey sound. It is often delivered in a series of single
note vocalizations and can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses
it.
Cutting of Excited
Hen
A series of fast, loud, erratic single notes is referred to as cutting. It's a
modified cluck and is a distinct abrupt call with a somewhat questioning nature.
It can be heard at a great distance and is often used by a single turkey looking
for companionship.
Adult
Hen Assembly Call
The adult hen assembly call is a series of loud yelps in order to assemble her
flock or young poults.
Fly Down Cackle
The cackle is generally associated with movement. It can be heard when a bird
is flying up or down from a roost, flying off a ridge, or flying across a creek.
A cackle usually consist of three to 10 irregularly spaced notes. It's a movement
call, so use it sparingly.
Kee
Kee Run
The kee kee is the lost call of young turkeys and variations made by adult birds.
It's often associated with fall hunting, but can be used successfully in the spring.
This is what it sounds like. A variation of the call, the kee kee run is merely
a kee kee with a yelp.
Purr
Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It can usually be heard
by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys
as they get in close to your position.
Cluck and Purr
The cluck and purr is single note or notes often associated with flock talk or
the feeling of contentment. Sometimes amplified. It is a cluck followed by a rolling,
almost staccato call.
Owl Hooting
The eight-note hoot of the barred owl is often used as a call to locate gobblers
in the early morning or late evening hours.
Gobbling
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.
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