Turkey Vulture Bird Facts (Cathartes aura)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Turkey Vulture is a large bird with a wingspan of up to 183 cm. Its body is covered in dark brown to black feathers, with a featherless red head and neck in adults. The underside of its wings appears silvery-gray when in flight.

Juveniles have a dark gray head until about 5 months of age. Both sexes look alike, with no significant seasonal plumage changes. Their ivory-colored bill and pink legs are distinctive features.

Size

Length

62cm to 81cm

Wingspan

160cm to 183cm

Weight

800g to 2.3kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black Brown

Secondary Colour

Red

Beak Colour

Ivory

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Turkey Vulture can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Turkey Vulture can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Turkey Vulture can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Turkey Vulture can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Turkey Vulture is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Turkey Vultures are widely distributed across the Americas, from southern Canada to the tip of South America. They inhabit a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.

In the United States, they are common year-round in southern states and migrate north for breeding. During winter, many northern populations move south to warmer regions, making them a familiar sight across much of North and South America.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Turkey Vulture. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Falkland Islands French Guiana Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Suriname The Bahamas Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Venezuela

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Jamaica United States of America Uruguay

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Aruba Costa Rica

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bermuda US Virgin Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Turkey Vulture demonstrates remarkable aerial agility, with its distinctive V-shaped wing posture and ability to rock side-to-side whilst soaring. Their mastery of thermal currents and precise flight control makes them exceptionally manoeuvrable for their size.

Strength 65

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst capable of lifting and carrying moderate weights, their strength is primarily adapted for soaring rather than powerful flight. Their ability to handle carrion and defend themselves is adequate, though they rely more on size than strength.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Highly adaptable birds that thrive across diverse habitats from sea level to 4,300 metres, spanning multiple climate zones. Their ability to exploit various food sources and adapt to different environments, coupled with their remarkable sense of smell, demonstrates exceptional adaptability.

Aggressiveness 30

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally non-aggressive birds that prefer to avoid confrontation. Their primary defence mechanism is regurgitation rather than fighting, and they typically feed cooperatively with others of their species. They rarely engage in aggressive behaviour except when absolutely necessary.

Endurance 95

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Exceptional endurance capabilities, particularly in flight. Their ability to soar for hours using thermal currents, combined with their wide-ranging migration patterns and capacity to function effectively across vast elevation ranges, demonstrates remarkable stamina and endurance.

Diet

Turkey Vultures are primarily scavengers, feeding mainly on carrion. They prefer freshly dead animals and can locate carcasses by smell, a rare ability among birds.

Their diet occasionally includes plant matter, and they may also feed on decaying vegetable matter. They play a crucial role in ecosystem health by disposing of dead animals.

Behaviour

Turkey Vultures are known for their unique flying style, often seen soaring with wings held in a shallow V-shape, rocking side to side. They are highly social, roosting in large groups at night and feeding together on carrion.

These birds have a keen sense of smell, which they use to locate food from great distances.

Vocalisation

Turkey Vultures are mostly silent birds, lacking a syrinx (voice box). When disturbed or threatened, they may produce a low, raspy hiss or a guttural grunt.

During courtship or when approaching carcasses, they sometimes emit a low, nasal whine. Their quiet nature is unusual for such large birds.

Nesting & Breeding

Turkey Vultures typically form long-term pair bonds. Breeding season varies by location but generally occurs from March to June in North America. They do not build elaborate nests, instead laying eggs directly on the ground in protected areas such as caves, hollow logs, or dense thickets.

Females usually lay two eggs, which are cream-colored with brown or purple spots. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 38-41 days.

Chicks are altricial, covered in white down at hatching. They fledge after 60-84 days but may remain dependent on their parents for several months.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

Turkey Vultures are currently listed as Least Concern due to their large range and stable population. However, they face threats from vehicle collisions, lead poisoning from ingesting contaminated carcasses, and habitat loss.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting roosting sites and educating the public about their ecological importance.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

28,000,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Turkey Buzzard

Family:

Cathartidae

Average Lifespan

16 years

Max Lifespan

20.8 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult Turkey Vultures have few natural predators. Great Horned Owls and Golden Eagles may occasionally prey on them. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to raccoons, opossums, and other ground predators.

Did You Know?

Turkey Vultures use their keen sense of smell to locate carrion, detecting odors from over a mile away.
They have a unique defense mechanism of vomiting semi-digested meat, which deters predators and lightens their load for flight.
Unlike many birds, Turkey Vultures urinate on their legs to cool off, a process called urohydrosis.