Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

The Turkey Vulture is a carrion feeder most often seen in flight, soaring on thermals as it searches for food, rarely needing to flap its wings.   They often congregate and forage around highways where roadkills are frequent.   They use a very strong sense of smell to locate carrion.

Habitat: Open country, woods, deserts.  Avoids dense unbroken forest, but prefers nesting and roosting sites within a few miles of foraging sites. 

Diet: Mostly carrion.  Occasionally feeds on insects, fish, or other easily caught live prey.

Behavior: Soars over open or semi-open country in search of carrion.  Carrion may be found by either sight or smell. 

Nesting: May through July

Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Generally silent.

Migration: Permanent resident in much of the southeastern U.S., but northern populations migrate as far as South America in the fall.

Similar Species: Black Vulture (not found in the state)

Feeders: Will attend feeders for deer carcass and assorted roadkill (Just kidding!!)

Status: Numbers have increased in recent decades, and they're expanding their range.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Turkey Vulture

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Turkey Vulture

3) eNature.com: Turkey Vulture

Photo Information: September 17th, 2004 -- Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri -- Terry L. Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Turkey Vulture photos.