Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are large, ground-dwelling birds that spend their days foraging across the landscape, but they must seek safety each night. This nightly behavior, known as roosting, involves ascending into trees. Although turkeys are primarily associated with the forest floor for feeding and walking, they transition to sleeping in trees to protect them during the dark hours when their natural defenses are compromised.
Preferred Roosting Locations
Turkeys do not select nightly roosts randomly; they favor mature, large-diameter trees that offer sturdy, horizontal limbs to support their body weight. The best roost trees often have a clean lower trunk, or bole, extending 20 to 30 feet without branches. This prevents ground predators from climbing up to reach them.
Turkeys will roost in a variety of species, but the structure of the tree is more important than the species itself. They need limbs that project outward to provide a secure perch. Locating trees near water sources like river bottoms or ponds is a common preference. Turkeys also select roost sites with a relatively open understory, which allows for a clear flight path both into and out of the tree. This open space ensures they can see potential threats on the ground before they fly down at dawn.
The Daily Roosting Cycle
The process of roosting is timed around the transition from day to night. As dusk approaches, turkeys conclude their late-afternoon feeding and begin moving toward a chosen roost site. The ascent typically occurs in the final 30 to 60 minutes before complete darkness, when light levels are sufficient for the birds to navigate their flight into the branches.
Turkeys use a strong burst of flight to propel their large bodies directly onto a high limb. Once perched, they may hop or “limb walk” to find a comfortable spot, often tucking their head under a wing as darkness settles. They remain in the tree for the entire night because their vision is poor in the dark. The morning descent follows a similar pattern: the birds become vocal just before sunrise, then fly down to the ground shortly after the first light appears.
Safety and Social Structure of the Roost
The primary driver for the turkey’s elevated nightly roost is protection from ground-based predators. Coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and other nocturnal hunters pose a threat to turkeys on the ground, but they cannot reach a bird perched high in a tree. Hens are at their highest risk of predation when they are forced to spend nights on the ground during the nesting season.
Turkeys are social birds, and they often roost in groups, which provides an added layer of collective security. Flocks are usually segregated by age and sex, consisting of groups of hens, young males (jakes), or adult males (gobblers). This grouping ensures that multiple eyes and ears are available to detect threats. The dominant birds in the social hierarchy often claim the highest limbs in the roost tree, a location that offers the best visibility. Turkeys will sometimes use soft “roost calling” sounds after settling in, a form of communication that helps maintain contact within the flock before they quiet down for the night.