Turkeys Have a Strict Hierarchy, and Humans May Be at the Bottom of the Pecking Order

It’s that time of year when many of us think about turkey. From hunting to Thanksgiving parties to Turkey Trot 5Ks, turkey season is in full swing. And even if you think about that big bird quite often, it’s possible that it also has you on its mind – and is evaluating you.

Turkeys have dominance hierarchies within their flocks, meaning they can have a distinct and aggressive pecking order, particularly when it comes to mates and resources. However, other turkeys aren’t the only animals this Thanksgiving bird can express these dominant traits to. Turkeys may also be attempting to establish dominance over humans, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (MassWildlife).

Learn more: Inside the Physics of Brisk Walking and Head Movements of the Humble Turkey

Turkeys above humans in the pecking order

Dominance hierarchies – also known as pecking orders – are seen throughout the animal kingdom in species like wolves, baboons, and birds – like chickens and turkeys – according to British. The hierarchy follows a linear (or almost linear) structure in which each animal is subservient to the one above it, until it reaches the top of the hierarchy.

When a hierarchy of turkeys is established, it generally remains unchanged and can remain quite peaceful. However, during mating season this may change. Male turkeys, known as toms, will fight to remain the alpha of a flock or to mate. Higher-ranking Toms can often act coldly towards young male turkeys – jakes – who are trying to join a flock.

How Turkeys Show Their Dominance

Toms can show their dominance in several ways, and one of them is posture. Here, a turkey may fluff its feathers or strut with lowered wings. This can be intimidating to other males. Toms will also fan out their tail feathers, which will not only make the turkey appear larger and more imposing, but will also attract mates.

Head pecking is another way turkeys show dominance – literally pecking order. Toms often peck the heads of those below them in the hierarchy. Pecking can be painful and cause serious injury to other turkeys.

Toms can also show their dominance in a rather strange way. Wild Turkey Lab hunters observed that after a tomcat was killed while hunting, another tomcat who might have been considered a “friend” or “equal” would sometimes run up to the dead turkey and begin posturing, pecking its head, or even standing on the dead bird.

Can turkeys assert dominance over humans?

In addition to asserting dominance over other turkeys, it is possible that some turkeys may also attempt to assert dominance over humans. Now, wild turkeys that are not accustomed to humans are probably not aggressors; However, if humans have fed or interacted with certain turkeys, they may begin to view those humans as a threat, according to the Audubon Society.

To prevent aggressive wild turkeys, it is important not to feed them, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (MassWildlife). The more humans feed wild turkeys, for example in residential neighborhoods, the more likely it is that wild turkeys will begin to flock to that area.

MassWildlife also advises covering shiny or reflective objects in your yard, such as mirrors, windows and even vehicles. During mating season, a turkey may see its reflection and think it is a rival, and thus begin to attack the reflection, causing damage to that reflective object.

If or when turkeys begin exhibiting more aggressive behavior toward humans, MassWildlife offers some tips for staying safe.

• Keep the turkey in front of you; he thinks you are more vulnerable from behind.
• Don’t run. Turkeys will likely see this as a form of submission and will chase you.
• Hold on and try to appear taller by opening your jacket or raising your arms above your head.
• Keep your body language more dominant.
• Move aggressively toward a turkey.
• Be strong and vocal. Sound a horn if one is available.
• Use objects within reach, such as a rake or other gardening tools, to keep the turkey away from you.
• Keeping a dog nearby can help keep turkeys away, but be careful that no animals are harmed.

Learn more: Turkeys are capable of “virgin birth”

Article sources

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