Turkey Vulture

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Cathartes Aura

CLASSIFICATION

Class:

Aves

Order:

Falconiformes

Family:

Catharitidae

Genus:

Cathartes

Species:

Aura

It’s common name “Turkey Vulture” comes from the similar head coloring of the two birds. Also known as the “Turkey Buzzard”, it is believed to have evolved independently and is related to storks and cormorants.

SIZE

Length:

Male:

29-32 inches

Female:

slightly smaller

Weight:

Male:

2-3 pounds

Female:

slightly smaller

Wingspan:

Male:

68-72 inches

Female:

sightly smaller

APPEARANCE:

Mature Turkey Vultures normally have dark brown plumage with a blue, purple, or greed irridescence. Outer feathers are fringed with medium-olive grey coloring, while a Turkey Vulture’s underparts are generally a brown-olive shade. It’s head and neck are bristled sparsely, and bright red. The relatively large beak is white and it’s sharp eyes are a dull yellow.

Juvenile Turkey Vultures closely resemble their elders, but the young are hooded with soft grey feathers. Their plumage, eyes and beak are blackish and their legs are yellow-white.

Although generally Turkey Vultures are identical, there are subtle regional variations. In the Amazon rainforests, plumage is somewhat darker and in the Falkland Islands, green and bronze plumage is dominant.

RANGE/DISTRIBUTION:

Being very versatile, the Turkey Vulture’s range includes most of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Throughout this area they inhabit grasslands, swamps, mountains, and rainforests. They are the most widely distributed vulture.

HABITAT/TERRITORY SIZE:

The territory of a single Turkey Vulture fluctuates with both the availability of carrion and their migratory tendencies. Habitat is extremely diversified and the birds travel to wherever scavenging is plentiful.

MIGRATION:

Turkey Vultures migrate thousands of miles north each spring from their tropical winter homes, and each fall return south to their old nesting sites. Turkey Vultures travel in unorganized flocks of several hundred birds. The flock may also include Black and Yellow-headed Vultures. Because they dislike open water, some narrow points in the migration are crowded. During migration little or no food is consumed.

DIET:

Turkey Vultures are true scavengers. Although they prefer to eat well-rotted carrion, they have been known to eat an assortment of treats. These animals very rarely kill prey themselves, but have been known to kill newborn pigs, young herons and ibis. Occasionally they have been known to catch mice and other small mammals, eat grasshoppers, fish, and even rotting pumpkins.

HUNTING METHOD:

Turkey Vultures are unusual compared with other vultures because of their keen sense of smell. Other vultures must rely on their eyesight to spot prey while Turkey Vultures have an added advantage. This is especially useful for those which live in the tropics. Here, the rainforest canopy conceals carrion which would make viewing it impossible. Vultures do not search for food in a true pack. Rather they “hunt” independently. When one spirals down toward prey, other vultures of all species notice and gather at the carrion.

BREEDING INFORMATION:

Turkey Vultures aren’t great nest builders. Nests are made on cliffs, caves, hollow stumps or even on the ground (provided dense shrubbery). The female makes little attempt to make a nest (of dried leaves or decayed wood) and the male makes none at all. One to three white eggs with brown markings are laid in three- to four-day intervals. Both sexes incubate the eggs for approximately five to six weeks. The hatchlings remain in the nest for eight to ten weeks at which point they are able to fly.

BEHAVIOR:

Turkey Vultures are considered beautiful and graceful while flying. They hold their broad wings at a slightly obtuse angle and have a narrow rounded tail. Sunlight reflects from glossy plumage and the birds appear to have a silvery hue. They effortlessly soar for hours at amazing heights, navigating rising thermals and air currents in ever widening spirals. However, if they could be called majestic in flight then they are uncouth and gangly on land. They have flat feet with little muscular power and shuffle or hop about. Beyond their aesthetically unpleasing look they also tend to smell due to their rancid diet.

Called a “voiceless bird”, Turkey Vultures are actually able to produce several sounds. They can emit a subdued grunt and a hiss or snarl is uttered when expressing a right to a carcass.

Scientists believe the bare-headedness occurring in vultures is a useful adaptation which is beneficial during feeding. At this time the vulture’s head-feathers would become matted and bacteria infested. This is especially important because of the vulture’s inability to preen its head and neck feathers. Another adaptation of the Turkey Vulture is its tendency to defecate directly on its feet. Biologists believe this is done to cool their feet and kill bacteria.

Of all the vultures, the Turkey Vulture is most likely to be the first to locate carrion. It is closely followed by the Black and King Vultures who have spotted its movements. Unfortunately for the Turkey Vulture, it posses a weak beak and must either wait until the carrion has been torn in pieces or wait until the flesh has been somewhat decayed. When feeding, Turkey Vultures have been known to gorge themselves so much that they are unable to fly until regurgitating.

STATUS:

Although they are numerous, Turkey Vultures have been persecuted in the past. Cattle ranchers once believed that vultures carried diseases that could spread to their cattle. In truth, vultures have the opposite effect and are useful in removing sources of infection. Because of this, the Turkey Vulture is now protected in most areas.

These birds have also proven their helpfulness elsewhere. Gas pipes are often located across miles of unpopulated land. When a leak occurs Turkey Vultures, attracted by the smell, will circle alerting humans of the problem.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

“Birds of Prey”, by Philip Burton, 1989, Gallery Books, pgs. 12-14.
“Birds of Prey”, by Michael Everett, G. P. Putman’s Sons, New York, pgs. 18, 50, and 52.
“Birds of Prey”, 1990, Facts on File, New York.
“Birds of Prey of Northeastern North America”, by Leon Augustus Hausman, 1966,
Richard R. Smith Publishers.
“Birds of Prey of the World”, by Mary Louise Grossman and John Hamlet, Bonanza Books,
New York, pgs. 201, 202, 142, and 156.
“Birds of the World, Birds of Prey”, by John P. S. Mackenzie, 1986, Key Porter Books, pg. 36.
“Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey”, by Arthur Cleveland Bent, 1961,
Dover Publications, New York, pgs. 12-28.
Prepared by: Ashley Burt