Turkeys that are kept as pets are not considered flightless birds because it is hard to imagine their big bodies ever being able to get enough lift off the ground to fly.
Is that also true for turkeys that roam freely? If so, can wild turkeys fly? Read on to find out more about wild turkeys, whether they can fly, and if so, how far and how fast they can fly.
There is some evidence that wild turkeys can fly, and they can get into the air with short, strong bursts of speed. They need to be able to fly to get to the tree branches where they sleep at night to avoid being eaten, but they can’t fly very far.
Wild turkeys, unlike their domesticated relatives, have to get off the ground often, either to avoid danger or to get to a safe place to sleep at night in the trees above their foraging areas on the forest floor.
Their natural instinct to fly takes over when they sense danger, but they aren’t designed to fly long distances, at high speeds for long periods of time, or at great heights.
Come with us as we look more closely at how wild turkeys fly and try to figure out why wild turkeys can fly but domestic turkeys can’t.
When you picture a turkey you likely envision a plump, flightless bird destined for the Thanksgiving table. However, wild turkeys are nimble athletic birds that take readily to the skies when threatened. Their ability to fly gives them an advantage that domestic turkeys lack. But just how far and fast can wild turkeys fly when they take off?
Wild Turkeys Can Fly Short Distances
While not champion fliers built for endurance, wild turkeys are fully capable of burst flight. When startled, they explosively take to the air, quickly gaining altitude. However, they tire rapidly and can only fly for short distances of around 0.4 km or a quarter mile before needing to rest. Their flight is swift but unsustainable for lengthy trips.
Impressive Speeds Over Short Distances
In those short sprints wild turkeys can attain speeds around 90 km/h or 55 mph! They are among the largest birds able to achieve such velocity in flight. But again they cannot maintain this pace for more than a few hundred meters. Their breasts lack the muscle mass for prolonged flapping. Still, the speed is invaluable for escape.
Limited High Altitude Flight
Don’t expect to see wild turkeys soaring at 10,000 feet! They are low altitude fliers, using just enough lift to reach tree branches 15-20 meters or 50 feet off the ground. This allows them to access nighttime roosting spots safe from predators. Any higher is unnecessary for their purposes.
Why Wild Turkeys Fly
Wild turkeys usually only fly when absolutely necessary, typically in two cases:
- To reach overhead night roosts, away from ground predators
- To escape imminent danger through burst “getaway” flight
Outside of these needs, wild turkeys are content to spend their time on terra firma strutting through forests and grasslands.
Built for Sprinting, Not Soaring
When comparing wild turkeys to other birds, their flight abilities are limited. Many bird species routinely migrate thousands of miles, soar to altitudes over 29,000 feet, and remain airborne for days, weeks, or months at a time. Wild turkeys simply aren’t built for that kind of flying.
Instead, they have evolved for short bursts of flight punctuating a terrestrial life of walking and sprinting. In fact, wild turkeys can sprint at 40 km/h or 25 mph on land – faster than most humans! Overall, flight is a convenience, not a lifestyle, for the wild turkey.
Why Domestic Turkeys Can’t Fly
Selective breeding of domestic turkeys favored larger breast meat and overall bulk, making these birds far too heavy to become airborne. Their wings are also relatively small and weak. Even if they flapped with all their might, domestic turkeys lack the capacity for flight. With no predators in farms or pens, there’s no advantage to flying anyway.
In Summary
Wild turkeys are capable fliers for very short distances and at low altitudes compared to wild bird species. They can impressively sprint through the air but tire quickly. While domestic turkeys are flightless, their wild cousins use their limited flight abilities to stay safe and reach treetop roosts. So while you won’t see wild turkeys embarking on epic migrations, they can readily take to the skies when needed.
wild turkeys: 18
flight: 10
fly: 10
turkeys: 9
air: 5
distances: 4
domestic: 4
ground: 3
roosts: 3
wings: 2
flapping: 2
birds: 2
soaring: 2
endurance: 2
sprint: 2
breasts: 2
grasslands: 1
forests: 1
farm: 1
pen: 1
Do wild turkeys migrate?
Wild turkeys lack the necessary long-term flight capabilities to fly a sufficient distance for regular migration. Since they can’t successfully fly to warmer areas, they have to find other ways to adapt to their surroundings when the temperature drops. They can live in temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) by keeping warm with their body fat.
Animals like wild turkeys can go about two weeks without food, so when winter comes, they may choose to find a safe place to roost on a high branch and go into a state similar to hibernation for a long time.
How high can wild turkeys fly?
Wild turkeys fly at relatively low altitudes, high enough to reach the strongest, primary branches of broad-leaved trees. Wild turkeys often roost in trees that are about 15 m (50 ft) above the ground, but they also use trees that are only 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 ft) above the ground.
They often go back to the same favorite place to sleep and don’t need to fly to higher branches if they find a thick, horizontal branch lower on the tree trunk.
A flock of wild turkeys in the winter, some flying
Turkey on the Fly
FAQ
How far will wild turkeys travel?
What is the home range of a wild turkey?
How fast can a wild turkey run and fly?
Will free range turkeys fly away?
How far can a Turkey fly?
Their broad wings and slim neck helps them fly as far as 400 meters from the ground. They can also fly down the mountains in hilly areas or woodlands. Although wild turkeys like running more than they like flying, they can still fly; they can fly a little distance, especially at night, though they can’t go very high.
How fast can a wild turkey fly?
Once airborne, a wild turkey will quickly reach its intended roosting spot, or land on the ground a safe distance from the threat that spooked it into flight. On land, wild turkeys can cover far more ground, reaching running speeds of around 40 km/h (25 mph).
Do wild turkeys fly long distances?
There have been times when wild turkeys flew for several hundred yards to cross large canyons when escaping predators or hunters. Even though they sometimes fly on longer distances, this isn’t their mundane thing; soaring or going on lengthy flights isn’t a wild turkey’s thing.
How do wild turkeys fly?
A wild turkey’s wings are capable enough to take sudden rapid flights; they mostly sit in the flying or their “cupped” position, ready to fly off when need be. This technique helps them get away from an attacker, hunter, or predator; just a burst of leg energy and flap of large wings.
Why are wild turkeys not able to fly?
Wild turkeys are only built for very short bursts of flight, so lengthy or leisurely flights are not on the cards. A turkey’s breast muscles are not developed for long periods in the air. This is because a turkey’s reserves of the chemical glycogen, needed to maintain a strength while airborne, is used up quickly during flight.
Do turkeys fly up high?
This technique helps them get away from an attacker, hunter, or predator; just a burst of leg energy and flap of large wings. Since wild turkeys feed on the land, they are commonly misunderstood for not flying up high. Busting this myth, these birds can soar for short bursts and can stay near the ground.