Wild turkeys have incredible eyesight. Their ability to sense a predator, like a hunter leaning back against a tree, is uncanny. Turkey vision can seem even supernatural at times. But really, it’s just a combination of evolution and physiology. Although there is still much we don’t know about how turkeys see, scientists have found a wealth of fascinating information, most of which will be helpful to hunters.
We know that a turkey’s vision is three times sharper than our own. In addition, their visual acuity is approximately eight times greater than ours, and their color perception is far superior. Over millions of years, turkeys’ vision has changed to help them detect predators, find mates, and recognize competitors. Understanding how turkeys see and perceive danger just might help improve your hunting setups this spring.
The wild turkey, a majestic creature of the North American wilderness, has captivated hunters and naturalists for centuries. But beyond its impressive plumage and elusive nature, lies a secret weapon: exceptional eyesight. Understanding how turkeys see the world is crucial for any hunter hoping to outwit these wary birds. So, can turkeys see color? The answer is a resounding yes, and their color vision plays a significant role in their survival and behavior.
Delving into the Turkey’s Eye: A World of Color and Sharpness
A turkey’s eye is a marvel of evolution, boasting unparalleled clarity and an ability to perceive colors beyond the human spectrum. This remarkable vision stems from the intricate structure of their retinas, packed with specialized cells called rods and cones. While humans possess three types of cones, responsible for color vision, turkeys have a staggering six. This additional cone type grants them the ability to see in the ultraviolet (UV) range, invisible to the human eye.
The Significance of UV Vision: A Hidden World Revealed
This UV vision plays a crucial role in a turkey’s life. It allows them to distinguish between ripe and unripe fruits, navigate through dense foliage, and even detect potential predators. But for hunters, this presents a unique challenge. Many camouflage patterns, while effective in the human eye’s visible spectrum, appear as bright, unnatural blemishes under a turkey’s UV vision. This highlights the importance of choosing camo that minimizes UV reflection, blending seamlessly into the natural environment.
Beyond Color: The Power of Sharpness and Peripheral Vision
The turkey’s visual prowess extends beyond just color perception. Their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads, granting them a panoramic view of their surroundings. This monocular vision allows for an impressive 270-degree field of view, enabling them to detect movement and potential threats from almost any direction. Additionally, their eyesight is three times sharper than a human’s 20/20 vision, allowing them to discern minute details at remarkable distances.
Outsmarting the Wary Gobbler: Strategies for Success
Understanding the exceptional vision of a turkey is the first step to outsmarting them in the field. Here are some key strategies to consider:
- Camouflage Choice: Opt for camo patterns that minimize UV reflection and blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
- Movement Control: Avoid sudden or erratic movements, as turkeys are highly sensitive to changes in their visual field.
- Position and Concealment: Choose your hunting position carefully, ensuring adequate cover and minimizing your silhouette against the horizon.
- Scent Control: Utilize scent-eliminating products to minimize your human odor, which turkeys can detect from a distance.
The wild turkey’s exceptional eyesight demands respect and careful planning from any hunter. By understanding their visual capabilities, we can approach the hunt with a deeper appreciation for these remarkable creatures and increase our chances of success. Remember, patience, stealth, and a thorough understanding of turkey vision are the keys to unlocking the secrets of the spring woods and outsmarting the wily gobbler.
Turkeys Can See Color–Better Than Us
Of all the vertebrate species on the planet today, birds have the most complex retinas. Accordingly, they perceive a larger and richer spectrum of colors than humans and other mammals do.
The human retina contains four different types of photoreceptors, comprising one rod and three single cones, without delving too deeply into the science of eyeballs. Cones aid in the conversion of light into color signals, which enables humans to see short, moderate, and long wavelengths of blue, green, and red. Rods aid in low light perception.
In contrast, the retina of a turkey contains seven different kinds of photoreceptors: two double cones, four single cones, and one rod. Because of this, turkeys and other birds are able to see a range of colors that are invisible to the human eye.
Dr. Chamberlain informs Outdoor Life that there is disagreement in science regarding turkeys’ ability to see in the ultraviolet spectrum. Regardless, he says, their color vision is “extremely acute. ” This gives the birds another advantage when scanning their surroundings for predators.
“They can just pinpoint colors so well,” Chamberlain says. “They can recognize blues, blacks, and other colors in their surroundings that might not look natural right away. ”.
The importance of color goes beyond predator detection, however. The fitter, more dominant toms are always more colorful than the others, so hen turkeys use their improved color vision to find mates.
A strutting tom makes his presence known. Adobe stock
“If you’re a dominant male, you’re going to breed more than a subordinate tom,” Chamberlain explains. “They’re more fit and more aggressive. They have longer snoods, more colorful heads, and more iridescence [in their feathers]. ”.
Amazingly, turkeys can also change the color of their heads to communicate and express emotions. One example of this is when a strutting gobbler’s head changes from bluish-white to a bright reddish color.
Turkeys Can See in All Directions at Once
The best sense a wild turkey has for spotting predators is its ability to see in multiple directions at once. Turkeys have monocular vision, which means their eyeballs function independently of one another. (As opposed to our own binocular vision that uses both eyes in concert. ) This gives the birds a 270-degree field of vision when their heads are perfectly still. But as most turkey hunters know, this is rarely the case.
“If you pay attention, [turkeys] turn their heads constantly. And because their eyes are working independently, that offers them a 360-degree field of view,” says Dr. Mike Chamberlain is a distinguished professor at the University of Georgia who has spent the last thirty years studying wild turkeys. “Whereas you and I have peripheral vision, but we can’t see above or behind us, turkeys can. By changing their head posture constantly, it allows their eyes to pick up movement as two independent periscopes. ”.
Chamberlain says turkeys also rely on their keen sense of hearing to augment their vision. Working in combination, these two senses allow them to quickly and accurately pinpoint potential predators and other turkeys.
They have similar hearing in that each ear independently detects sound and sends it to the brain. When their vision is combined with their ability to hear, they are able to look in that direction and locate the exact source of the sound, the speaker says. “That’s why they have that uncanny ability [to locate other birds]. You call at them from the tree, and ten minutes later they’re standing right there at the tree. ”.
The biggest trade-off for being able to see in all directions at once is that turkeys don’t have clear depth perception. The classic turkey head bob helps with this shortcoming, according to The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management, a book that was published in 1992 by the National Wild Turkey Federation and edited by Dr. James G. Dickson.
Dickson states that “the turkey can determine relative distances by a slight turning of its head and viewing an object at different angles,” even though “the three dimensions of space cannot be clearly perceived.” ”.
5 Things to Know about the Turkey’s Vision
Can turkeys see colors?
Yes, turkeys can see colors. Turkeys have very good visions and can see colors even more than humans do. Turkeys can see colors even in shades, and can distinguish between shades of the same color. This is because turkeys have a retina with 7 different types of photoreceptors while humans have retinas with only 4 different types of photoreceptors.
How do wild turkeys see?
According to “The Wild Turkey; Biology and Management,” compiled and edited by Dr. James G. Dickson, wild turkeys have flattened corneas and can see colors to some degree. Their eyes are located on the side of their head, meaning they have monocular, periscopic vision. “Humans have binocular vision and can judge distance quickly,” Eriksen said.
Are turkeys color blind?
No, turkeys are not color blind. Turkeys have excellent vision and can see more colors than humans can. They can even see UV light that human eyes can’t detect. Do turkeys see well at night? No, turkeys cannot see well at night.
Do turkeys see better than humans?
The professor adds that turkeys also feature outstanding color vision, having more photoreceptors than humans, and they even flaunt a sensitivity to wavelengths near the UVA range. In short, turkeys see colors, patterns, and shapes differently than people and that results in their amazing ability to detect danger.