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. If hens are present, a gobbler will display by fanning his tail, erecting his feathers, and tucking his head back against his body. He will strut back and forth, hissing and dragging his wing tips on the ground. The first bird to let go or lose balance gets thrashed with wing and spur. A dominant male may collect a harem of 8-12 or even more hens.