What Is a Group of Wild Turkeys Called? Not a Flock

The most common collective noun for turkeys is a "rafter." It's the official term for a group of wild turkeys, used much like "gaggle" for geese or "murder" for crows.

But people also refer to turkey groups as a "gang" or a "posse," especially when large groups of adult males are involved.

These colorful terms help describe turkeys' social nature, especially outside the breeding season when both male and female turkeys gather to forage for food and avoid predators.

Wild turkeys and domesticated turkeys behave quite differently. Wild turkeys can fly short distances and often roost in trees. They form rafters that move together for safety.

Female groups, or hens with their young turkeys (called poults), may gather separately from males outside of spring breeding season.

On a turkey farm, domesticated turkeys are typically raised in large groups inside barns. These commercial turkeys are bred for size, and most people are familiar with them as the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner.

Male turkeys are known as toms or gobblers, and female turkeys are called hens. Young turkeys go by the name "poults." A rafter might include turkeys of different ages and sexes, depending on the time of year.

During breeding season, males may form small bachelor groups while females nest and tend to eggs. Once hatching begins, young poults stick close to their mothers, forming tight family units.

Most people think of the bald eagle as the U.S. national bird, but Benjamin Franklin famously preferred the turkey. He admired wild turkeys, calling the turkey "a much more respectable Bird" than the eagle and praising it as "a Bird of Courage" that would not hesitate to defend its territory.

Franklin’s argument wasn’t enough to elevate turkeys to national bird status, but it highlighted how unique these birds are among American wildlife.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.