Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 25.2–31.9 in
64–81 cm - Wingspan
- 66.9–70.1 in
170–178 cm - Weight
- 70.5 oz
2000 g
Other Names
- Urubu à tête rouge, Vautour (French)
- Zopilote Aura, Aura cabecirroja (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy.
- The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals.
- Like its stork relatives, the Turkey Vulture often defecates on its own legs, using the evaporation of the water in the feces to cool itself down.
- The Turkey Vulture usually forages alone, unlike its smaller, more social relative, the Black Vulture. Although one Turkey Vulture can dominate a single Black Vulture at a carcass, usually such a large number of Black Vultures appear that they can overwhelm a solitary Turkey Vulture and take most of the food.
Habitat
Grassland
- Prefers rangeland and areas of mixed farmland and forest.
- Roosts in large trees or on large urban buildings.
Food
Carrion
Wide variety of carrion, from small mammals to dead cows. Also some insects, other invertebrates, and some fruit.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–3 eggs
- Egg Description
- Creamy-white with dark blotches around large end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Downy and helpless. Unable to hold head up, but can hiss.
Nest Description
No nest structure. Puts eggs directly on ground in caves, crevices, mammal burrows, hollow logs, under fallen trees, or in abandoned buildings.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Soaring
Soars over large distances and detects carrion by sight and smell.
Conservation
Least Concern
Overall North American populations have increased over the last few decades and the breeding range has expanded northward.
Credits
- Kirk, D. A., and M. J. Mossman. 1998. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). In The Birds of North America, No. 339 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.