The science behind turkey gobbling ahead of Thanksgiving

As families prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey takes center stage on dinner tables across the country. But long before the centerpiece roast reaches the platter, vocalizations like gobbling play a fundamental role in how these iconic birds communicate, defend territory, and interact within the flock.

Sara Cloft, a collegiate assistant professor of poultry science education in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, specializes in bird physiology, agricultural workforce development, and undergraduate experiential learning.

Ahead of the holiday, Cloft explained the physiological and social reasons behind turkey behavior, why toms gobble, and how turkeys use sound to navigate their environment year-round.

Why do turkeys gobble in the first place?

“Gobbling is a way for male turkeys to show off and is accompanied by their strutting behaviors both to their girls, competing males, and people wandering too close by,” Cloft said.

Why do male turkeys gobble more than females?

“Gobbling is primarily used by the toms for courting females and claiming territory,” she noted.

What does a turkey's gobble mean during mating season?

“During mating season, the boys are trying to recruit females for breeding and to assert territorial control from other male turkeys,” Cloft explained.

Do female turkeys ever gobble?

“Females don't typically gobble,” she said. “However, very dominant ones can make cackles that can be hard to distinguish from gobbling.”

How do turkeys communicate through sounds other than gobbling?

“Gobbling is the most well-known vocalization that turkeys make, but there are also cackles and whistles that turkeys make,” Cloft noted. “Hens and males will cackle while they are moving around their environment and talking to each other. Whistling is primarily made by poults, or baby turkeys.”

About Cloft

Sara Cloft is a collegiate assistant professor of poultry science education in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech. She earned her doctorate in animal and poultry sciences from Virginia Tech in 2022 after completing a master's degree in poultry science at Auburn University. Her research and teaching focus on enhancing the resilience of the poultry industry through undergraduate experiential learning, poultry physiology, and agricultural workforce development.

Media Availability

To schedule interviews with Cloft, email mediarelations@vt.edu.