Wild turkeys can and do fly. Although these birds may sometimes weigh over 25 pounds, their strong muscles and wings allow them powerful flight over short distances. However, adults rarely fly with continuous wingbeats for more than about 1/8 mile. When gliding with periodic wingbeats– such as flying downslope– turkeys can fly about 1 mile without difficulty. Their flight speed has been estimated as up to 55 to 60 mph. By nature, however, turkeys are “cursorial” (running) birds and they prefer to move about and escape on foot except when startled or severely chased. The young poults learn to fly at about 8 to 10 days. At that time, they begin to roost with the hen in trees. Before attaining “flight status”, the hen and poults stay together on the ground at night. This may make them more susceptible to predators. Turkeys do not migrate or fly south for the winter.
Sorry but turkeys CAN FLY We lived out in bowie texas and their were wild turkeys flying in to use our drive way back and forth to the pond for water and they flew in landed and walked to the pond then flew away right out of the pond, so yes wild turkeys can fly and your mother is right SHE DID SEE THE TURKEY FLY, you are the one who is wrong here. Just because you didn’t see it and she did doesn’t mean she didn’t see it, we saw them all the time!
Wild turkeys can fly, they can fly very quickly but not for very long distances….for such a big bird they are impressive to see fly! sorry….your mom was absolutely right….when we say they can’t fly long distances, we mean they don’t fly 2 to 3 km’s, but they certainly can fly out of eye sight in a hurry, and this is how they can get up in the trees, they sleep in them every night…..they are an impressive bird…and very tasty also….
