Trystan Casey
Wild turkeys are known to make a range of sounds, from gobbling to clucking and yelping. However, one of their lesser-known vocalizations is the mysterious drum, a deep, low-frequency sound that is often accompanied by a spit. This vocalization is made exclusively by male turkeys, and even scientists are uncertain of the exact mechanics behind it. The drum is thought to be produced when the turkey quickly sucks in air and then forces it out again, resulting in one of the lowest sounds in the woods. The spit-drum is a telltale sign that a turkey is nearby, and hunters use this knowledge to track and locate the birds. While wild turkeys are known to do unexplainable things, the mystery surrounding the electric drum remains unsolved, leaving us to wonder if even wild turkeys dream of such sounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sound | A soft, guttural sound that begins with a brief, sharp "pfft", "tick", or "chhhkkk" and is followed by a lower, softer drum that sounds like a bass "duum" or "whoouump" |
| Made by | Male turkeys |
| Occurs | When turkeys are strutting or puffing up; also when calling up hens |
| Movement | A quiver or slight sliding steps |
| Volume | Whisper-quiet, low, and mild; may not be heard beyond 40-50 yards |
| Scientific research | Incomplete |
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What You'll Learn
How do turkeys drum?
Turkey drumming is a sound made exclusively by male turkeys during the mating season. It is a subtle, soft, guttural, and low-frequency sound that is difficult to hear from a distance, especially with background noise or wind. The sound is produced when the turkey forces air up from its body, creating a spit-drum sound with a distinct spitting noise immediately followed by a drum. The spit portion sounds like a brief "pfft" or "tick", while the drum portion is a low bass "duum" that increases in tone and volume. The drumming is often accompanied by a puffing up of the feathers and a quivering movement. While the exact reason for this behaviour is unknown, it is believed to be related to mating rituals and courtship displays.
The drumming sound is part of the turkey's strutting sequence, during which the turkey contracts muscles to erect its body feathers and display colour changes in its head and neck. This physical transformation is thought to be a way for male turkeys to impress hens and establish dominance over rivals. The strutting behaviour can be observed year-round, but the drumming sound is most commonly heard during the spring mating season.
While wild turkeys make other common noises such as purring, clucking, gobbling, and yelping, the drumming sound is more mysterious and less well-understood. It is a vocalization that is felt more than heard, and even scientists are uncertain of the exact mechanism by which turkeys produce it. The low-frequency sound may be created by the rapid intake and expulsion of air, resulting in a deep bass note.
Turkey hunters often listen for the drumming sound as an indication of the presence of a gobbler. However, the subtle nature of the sound requires hunters to be within close range and pay close attention to their surroundings. The drumming sound, along with other turkey vocalizations, remains a subject of ongoing scientific research and curiosity.
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Why do turkeys drum?
Turkey drumming is a mysterious vocalization made exclusively by male turkeys during the mating season. It is a subtle, soft, and low-frequency sound that is difficult to hear unless one is within 40 to 50 yards of the bird. The sound is produced by the turkeys forcing air up from their bodies, resulting in a deep bass "duum" vocalization that begins low and increases in tone and volume towards the end. This sound is often accompanied by a distinct spitting sound, leading to the term "spit-drum" used by hunters.
The exact reason why male turkeys drum is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to their mating rituals and courtship displays. Turkeys drum while strutting and puffing up their feathers to impress hens, especially in the springtime. The drumming, along with the visual display of their colourful feathers, is thought to be part of their effort to attract potential mates and establish dominance over rivals.
The mechanics of how turkeys produce the drumming sound are also not entirely clear, even to scientists. While it is known that the sound originates from the movement of air within their bodies, the specifics of how they achieve this are still a mystery. Some hunters speculate that it involves the wing feathers, but others observe that the turkeys' wings remain still during the drumming. The sound may be produced using muscles in the chest or the pulmonic membrane/sac.
Turkey drumming is a unique and fascinating behaviour that showcases the complexity of turkey communication and behaviour. While much is still unknown about the exact purpose and mechanism of turkey drumming, ongoing scientific research and observation continue to enhance our understanding of this intriguing phenomenon.
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What does turkey drumming sound like?
Turkey drumming is a mysterious vocalization made exclusively by male turkeys during the mating season. It is a subtle, soft, and low-frequency sound that is often felt more than heard and is described as a "whoouump" or "ruuummp". The sound is produced by the turkeys forcing air up from their bodies and is often accompanied by a distinct spitting sound, resulting in a "chhhkkkk", then "whoouump" or "pfft", then "duum". The drum sound is deeper and lower in volume than the spit and increases in tone and volume towards the end.
Turkey drumming is a noise that turkeys make in conjunction with strutting, puffing up, and spitting. It is a low, mild sound that is difficult to hear unless one is within 40 to 50 yards of the turkey. The movement associated with drumming can be described as a quiver, and it is made by the contraction of muscles that control feather position, causing the body feathers to stand erect.
The spit-and-drum sound is a telltale sign that a male turkey is close by and is often used by hunters to track the bird's whereabouts. The sound carries farther in an open canopy and on high ground. In regions with high predator populations, turkeys may only drum as the sound doesn't carry as far as gobbling.
While the exact mechanics of how turkeys produce the drum sound are not fully understood by scientists, it is believed to originate from the chest area, specifically the pulmonic membrane or sac. The sound is made by quickly sucking in air and then forcing it out again, resulting in one of the lowest sounds in the woods.
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What is the spit and drum?
The spit and drum is a sound made by male turkeys, also known as gobblers or toms. It is a soft, guttural sound that they make by forcing air up from their bodies. The sound begins with a sharp "spit" or "tick", which is a brief "pfft" or "chhhkkkk", and is followed by the "drum", a low, soft "duum" that increases in tone and volume. The drum has also been described as sounding like "whoooooommmmm", "whoouump", "ruuummp", or "dough".
The spit and drum is often associated with strutting, a type of courtship display that male turkeys perform, especially in the presence of hens. However, turkeys also spit and drum when they are not strutting. The spit and drum is a quieter sound than the gobble, carrying only about 100 yards, and can be difficult for humans to hear. Hunters may have a better chance of hearing the spit and drum in areas with an open canopy and high ground, as the sound carries farther in these conditions.
While the exact meaning of the spit and drum is not known, it may be a way for male turkeys to attract mates or establish their territory. In regions with high predator populations, turkeys may only drum because the sound doesn't carry as far as the gobble, making it safer to use.
The spit and drum is a distinctive sound that hunters use to locate turkeys. It can be a valuable tool for hunters, as turkeys may not always gobble, but they will often drum.
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How does turkey drumming help hunters?
Turkey drumming is a subtle, almost whisper-quiet sound that male turkeys emit during the mating season. It is a noise that turkeys make in conjunction with spitting and puffing up. Turkey hunters are as likely to see the movement of drumming as they are to hear the sound, all without realizing what they are witnessing. It is such a low, mild sound that a hunter needs to be within 40 to 50 yards to hear it.
The sound is produced when male turkeys force air up from their bodies and then force it out again quickly. The result is one of the lowest sounds in the woods. It is so subtle that you may not realize the gobbler in front of you is doing it if there is enough background noise. The drumming is generally preceded by a distinct spitting sound, which sounds like a brief "pfft" or "tick". This is immediately followed by the drum, which sounds like a bass "duum" vocalization that begins low and increases in tone and volume at the end.
Turkey drumming helps hunters by acting as a signal that a male turkey is in the vicinity. Hunters who strive to perfect the art of listening, being still, and quiet increase their chances of tagging a tom as they learn to hear and pinpoint the subtle sounds of a gobbler's spit and drum. In regions with high predator populations, like bobcats and coyotes, turkeys often only drum because the sound doesn't carry as far as gobbling.
Turkey drumming is also accompanied by a visual display, with the turkey's body feathers standing erect and the tail raising to a vertical position to form a fan. The head, neck, and skin around the eyes may range from blue to bright red to flesh tone or white, changing colours in response to the bird's mood. This transformation creates a heart-stopping feathered kaleidoscope of colour that can haunt a hunter's dreams.
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Frequently asked questions
Turkey drumming is a noise made by male turkeys during the mating season. It is a low, subtle sound that is often accompanied by spitting and puffing up.
Turkey drumming is described as a deep, low-frequency sound that starts quietly and increases in volume. Some people compare it to a bass drum or a tympani, while others say it sounds like "whoouump" or "ruuummp".
Turkey drumming is thought to be a form of courtship or mating behaviour. It is often done in conjunction with strutting, which is when turkeys puff up their feathers to attract hens.
The exact mechanism of how turkeys produce the drumming sound is not fully understood, even by scientists. It is believed that turkeys make this sound by quickly sucking in air and then forcing it out again.
The sound of turkey drumming is thought to come from the chest area, specifically the pulmonic membrane or sac. It is not believed to involve the wings.
