What Is a Group of Turkeys Called? (Complete Guide)

What is a Group of Turkeys Called? (Short Answer)

The most common and widely accepted term for a group of turkeys is a flock of turkeys.
When talking about a mother turkey with her young, the correct term is a brood of turkeys.
A traditional, turkey-specific term you’ll often see in linguistic lists is a rafter of turkeys.

What Is a Group of Turkeys Called?

Turkeys may be famous for Thanksgiving, but their collective nouns are famous for being unusually varied, historical, and occasionally hilarious. Depending on context, age group, and the source you consult, a group of turkeys can be called several things.

To keep it clean, we divide these names into three categories:

Official, Legit, Widely Accepted Terms For Turkeys

These terms are historically documented, commonly used, and recognized across wildlife, linguistic, and academic sources.

✔ A Flock of Turkeys

The everyday, widely used collective noun for turkeys. Works for wild and domestic groups.

✔ A Brood of Turkeys

Used specifically for a mother hen and her babies (poults).

✔ A Rafter of Turkeys

A traditional turkey-specific term found in older collective noun lists. Still widely cited online and in language references.

Alternative: A raft of Turkeys

✔ A Gang of Turkeys

Often used for bold or territorial groups of wild turkeys. Yes, turkeys can be territorial, especially during mating season!

✔ A Muster of Turkeys

Means “to gather or assemble,” which fits turkey social behavior very well.

✔ A Posse of Turkeys

Typically used for groups of wild male turkeys.

✔ A Mob of Turkeys

A recognized term in many linguistic lists, especially for mixed groups.

They’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse!

✔ A Crop of Turkeys

A historical collective noun appearing in multiple sources.

✔ A Dole of Turkeys

Old English–style terms from early collective noun traditions.

✔ A Dule of Turkeys

Old English–style terms from early collective noun traditions.

✔ Run of Turkeys

Used for wild groups of turkeys that are moving over larger areas.

Fun, Historical, or Linguistic Oddities

These terms show up in historical writings, later linguistic compilations, gamekeeper glossaries, or regional sources. They are not wrong, just less official and “for fun.”

A Raffle of Turkeys

Found repeatedly in older lists; possibly tied to old turkey raffles.

A Herd of Turkeys

While “herd” is normally for mammals, some early lists included it for turkeys.

A Bachelor Group of Male Turkeys

Behaviorally real; not a medieval term but a useful modern one.

A Raft of Turkeys

Variant of “rafter,” sometimes listed separately.

Modern, Humorous, Not Official

While not traditional or officially recognized, these modern “collective nouns” have gained traction as witty, slang-style expressions. They’re fun, imaginative, and perfect for adding a little humor to your turkey terminology.

A Thanksgiving of Turkeys

A playful modern term that leans into the holiday most associated with turkeys. It’s not historically recognized, but it’s a fun, seasonal nod that people instantly understand.

A Death Row of Turkeys

A dark-humored, modern slang phrase that pops up online as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fate of many turkeys. Not official by any means, but definitely memorable.

A School of Turkeys

Borrowing from the fish world, this humorous twist imagines turkeys moving with surprising coordination. It’s not an accepted term, just a light, funny bit of modern slang.

Why “Flock” and “Brood” Are the Main Answers

So why are “Flock” and “Brood” the more accepted collective noun terms? Let’s take a look..

A Flock of Turkeys

Flock = General Bird Term

“Flock” works because turkeys are birds that forage, travel, and roost together. The term has been used since Old English flocc and is applied to many species:

• Chickens: What is a Group of Chickens Called?
• Ducks: What is a Group of Ducks Called?
• Geese: What is a Group of Geese Called?
• Pigeons: What is a Group of Pigeons Called?
• Sparrows: What is a Group of Sparrows Called?

.. and, of course, turkeys.

A Brood of Turkeys

Brood = Mother + Poults

The term brood describes a mother hen with her young poults, highlighting their natural family grouping and close bond. Later in the summer, several broods can combine into a bigger unit commonly referred to as a ‘gang brood.’

Where These Names Come From

Many bird collective nouns come from medieval England’s love of poetic nomenclature, especially hunting traditions.

This means..

• Some turkey terms were borrowed from existing bird terms
• Others were added in later expanded lists
• Some modern humorous ones are newly invented

This explains why turkey collective nouns vary more than most birds.

FAQs

What is the most accurate term for a group of turkeys?

A flock of turkeys is the most widely accepted general term.
A brood is used for hens with poults.
A rafter is the most recognized turkey-specific term.

Do turkeys always gather in groups?

No. Social structure changes seasonally:

• Toms form bachelor groups
• Hens form maternal broods
• Mixed flocks occur outside breeding season

Are turkeys dangerous in groups?

Generally no.
Toms can become territorial in spring, but groups aren’t aggressive by nature.
(“Gang” and “posse” refer to language, not danger.)

Can you call a group of turkeys a herd?

It appears in some historical lists, but it’s not a primary term.

Quiz Time

Conclusion

A group of turkeys can be called many things, but flock, brood, and rafter are your three strongest, most traditional terms. The rest add color, history, and fun to the English language, especially around Thanksgiving.

_{This article was originally published on October 6, 2025. The most recent update was on November 28, 2025.}