Turkeys gobble primarily to attract attention and communicate with other turkeys, especially other males and hens. Gobbling helps toms maintain their relationships with other males by signaling their location ("I'm still over here, you can stay over there"). It also serves to announce their presence to hens during the breeding season. Gobbling is most common around the roost site, typically at first light, and is driven by hormonal and social instincts. Additionally, turkeys may gobble in response to loud noises or sounds that fall within the same frequency as a gobble, such as owl hoots, crow calls, or even gunshots. This reaction is often an instinctive vocal response rather than an intentional communication with other animals. This kind of gobbling triggered by sudden noises is sometimes called a "shock gobble".
Weather conditions and environmental factors like barometric pressure also influence gobbling frequency. For example, higher barometric pressure tends to increase gobbling, while low pressure and strong winds reduce it.
Overall, gobbling is a multifaceted behavior for communication in mating, territoriality, and responding to environmental stimuli.
