42 Nebraskaland • April 2025
erhaps it's the relatively small,
featherless, wrinkly head
on the big body that gives
it comical appeal. Make no
mistake, though, fighting among wild
turkeys is serious business.
Similar to other wildlife species,
most fighting among turkeys is related
to the mating scene. Throughout the
year, males establish a pecking order
with the most dominant toms earning
the right to breed and pass on their
genetics.
The process of developing this
hierarchy picks up in fall when turkeys
gather in flocks. While spending all
of that time together throughout the
winter, social structures develop.
Tough guys get a reputation. Inferior
birds are shunned. Gangs form. Hens
also squabble as they jockey for rights
to food and nesting locations.
While much of the dominance has
been determined come spring, the
mating period is when some of the
most dramatic fights occur. Toms have
a one-track mind and are intent on
their mission. As each day lengthens,
so rises the level of testosterone in the
males, making them more apt to get
worked up.
When toms become agitated in a
skirmish or excited at the presence of
females, blood rushes to their heads.
This changes the way light reacts
with collagen fibers, causing them to
emit the distinct red, white and blue
P
The
Serious
Business
of Turkey Fighting
Story and photos by Justin Haag
A wild turkey pecks at the head of another after establishing dominance.
The bottom turkey waited for the bird on top to get out of sight before rising
and heading in an opposite direction at Chadron State Park.
