Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Summary

Many people think turkey vultures are ugly and vicious predators. While they may have a face only a mother could love, they are in fact fascinating birds that rarely kill their own prey. Instead, they have evolved to feed on carrion (dead animals) and have special adaptations to help with this, including bald heads to help stay clean while feeding on carcasses, an excellent sense of smell to aid in locating food, and digestive systems designed to help keep them healthy despite feeding on dead animals.

Turkey vultures are also incredibly efficient in flight. They use rising columns of warm air (thermals) to help lift them higher in the air, before slowly spiraling downward, only needing to flap their wings occasionally. This technique allows vultures to cover large areas in search of food, as well as migrate over great distances, while minimizing the amount of energy spent.

Learn more about turkey vultures here.

More Details

FAMILY

Cathartidae (Vultures and Condors)

IDENTIFICATION

Large, dark birds most often seen soaring except when feeding on roadkill. Look for lighter flight feathers and a slight V-shape to wings in flight.

HABITAT

Found soaring over a variety of habitats but typically roost in trees or rocky areas and often find food along roads and other open areas

DIET

Carrion (dead animals)

Ecosystem Connections

Turkey vultures will primarily be seen soaring over SBG, unless they happen to find carrion to feed on or are roosting in the taller trees around the garden. However, the SBG is home to a variety of animals that may end up feeding vultures after they die. By feeding on carrion, turkey vultures are providing a very important environmental service by cleaning up dead and decaying animals that could spread disease.

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