Wild turkeys may behave more aggressively through the end of May. This is why

Love is in the air — for turkeys, anyway. 

Turkey breeding season runs from March through May. That means more of the birds can be seen out and about, with some exhibiting aggressive behavior.

“You have males going through the courtship display to attract females,” said David Scarpitti, a wildlife biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). “They’re puffing up their feathers, fanning their tails, gobbling. The younger birds will sort of fight among each other to find their place in the world.”

He said turkeys are intelligent, and tend to have excellent sight and hearing. They're social animals that live in large groups.

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Scarpitti added that while most people do not present a significant threat to turkeys, the birds have been known to direct some aggression toward humans.

“It’s always a good idea to keep a distance, if possible,” he said. “A more assertive male might get puffed up and approach you. Never turn your back and run away. Keep the bird in front of you. They tend to want to get behind you and attack from behind. Body language is important. Don’t be fearful and shy away; be bold. That can quickly get them to back down.”

But most people’s encounters with turkeys are benign. The birds tend to be more aggressive with one another other than with humans. But it's nevertheless a good idea to be aware.

Turkeys are everywhere, especially where they may find food

Turkeys can be found in every area of the commonwealth, except Nantucket. They tend to follow food resources, so they're often found in places where people feed them.

“Don’t feed wildlife,” Scarpitti said. “Leave them alone and let them find their own way.”

Turkey hens begin laying eggs and incubating nests by the end of April. About a month later, turkey babies, or “poults,” can be seen.

“This time of year you’ll see turkeys in smaller groups — a handful of females and a bunch of males following them around trying to breed,” Scarpitti said. “Then that changes and the hens incubate the nests and we have a bunch of single males walking around. Then the eggs hatch and we see family groups.”

A little turkey trivia

Turkeys can fly. Though Scarpitti said they won’t embark on any long-distance trips, they can fly in instances in which they need to get away from predators.

“It’s pretty impressionable for a bird that size to get airborne,” he said. “At night, they’ll roost in tees. They’ll fly 50 to 100 feet up into a pine tree for the night. In the morning, they’ll glide out into a nice flat area where they’ll land.”