The strides of chased gobblers have been measured at four feet and their top speed estimated at 18 mph. Each evening, turkeys fly into trees to spend the night. A flock of 6 to 40 birds may roost in the same tree or in adjacent trees. They prefer the shelter of conifers during inclement weather. In early morning, the birds glide to the ground, call, and regroup for feeding.
Turkeys make a wide range of sounds.
Gregarious birds, turkeys call when separated from the flock. By imitating such calls, hunters attract birds. His fleshy crown swells and turns pale, his wattles redden and hang from his head, and he develops a thick, spongy breast layer containing oils and fats to help sustain him over breeding season. Toms gobble loudly in early morning and sometimes in late evening. Blowing a car horn, beating a tin pan, or making almost any loud noises may provoke lusty gobbles.