What Is a Group of Turkeys Called? Not a Flock or Anything Else You'd Expect

If you’ve ever spotted a bunch of turkeys strutting through a field or pecking around a barnyard, you might wonder: What is a group of turkeys called?

Turns out, English has a surprising name for these birds when they gather. It’s not a flock, gaggle, or herd. It’s a rafter.

What Is a Rafter of Turkeys?

A group of turkeys is officially called a rafter. This term dates back to at least the 16th century, though today it often gets replaced by the more generic "flock."

Still, "rafter" is the established term recorded in dictionaries and used in avian studies.

While "rafter" might sound like something you'd find in a barn, it's actually linked to older uses of the word meaning an arrangement or grouping. That makes it a good fit for these birds, whether wild or domesticated.

Wild Turkey