What is a drumming Turkey?

[Trapper_Hunter]

I have heard that they are supposed to sound like a woodpecker. Is this true. What is exactly is it, I don't know anything about them.

Thanks,
Trapper_Hunter(Colby)

[tj_cubin]

drumming is a noise the turkey makes, but dont ask me how or why they do it. I have never personally heard a turkey drum, but i know they sell calls that sound like it.

[sour01]

I finally heard a gobbler spit and drum this year. It is a sound they make often while struttng. The spit is like FFFFFFFTTT! Then a very low frequency noise that sounds like "dough" but is drawn out. What it means---if you hear it---Mr. Long Beard is real close. The one I heard was behind me. I made the mistake of turning my head---only to see him beat feet!!

[RayC]

drumming is a sound they make withe their wings, usually part of the strutting sequence. ruffed grouse do a similiar thing, and its something I've heard quite often in the spring woods

[snowdog2]

I don't think drumming involves the wings, because the toms drumming I've seen aren't moving their wings when they drum. To me, the drum sounds like a low frequency (that is, a low pitched) "whoouump" or "ruuummp". It is a single note at a time. I think of it like hitting a tympani or bass drum once, only the sound has less volume and is lower in pitch than the usual tympani or bass drum. My understanding is that it comes from their chest area, likely the pulmonic membrane/sac. The "spit" is a "chhhkkk' sound I think they make when they "snap" their wings at the start of the strut, but I don't know if it comes from their mouths or their wings.
It is awesome to hear!!

[rybohunter]

I'm no expert but I was fortunate enough to experience 2 toms in full strut at about 7-8 yds once. sour1 & Snowdog's descriptions are what I heard.

[Deleted User]

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[lhook7]

To me, the spitting always sounds like a verrry angry house cat. The drum sounds like someone making a drum sound in their throat.

[Buckeye Mike]

Let me ask a follow up. Do turkeys drum without spitting? I have heard turkeys spit and drum on tape but not in person. Last Saturday I was out for the youth hunt with my son. We went into a wooded area that often has turkeys. On our way into the area we heard a loud noise up ahead that almost sounded like someone picked up a log and dropped it. We set up quickly and I did a few clucks and purrs and a couple of yelps. There was no response but we continued to hear the noise periodically for about 5 minutes. It came from the same spot each time. My son wanted to go and look but we held tight. Eventually, the sound stopped and we moved to investigate. I never saw any turkey sign in the area where the noise came from and never figured out what it was. It was not the classic spit and drum just a periodic thump. Any ideas?

[jepcho]

I've never been able to hear one drumming yet. I hear about it alot but that is about the only turkey behavior I havent experience in the wild.