As the snow melts and the days get longer, there’s another sign of spring that might not be as cheery as blossoming flowers or chirping birds: the return of Turkey Vultures. Often overlooked and sometimes even shunned for their scavenging habits, Turkey Vultures play a vital role in our ecosystems and have some fascinating traits that make them worth a closer look.
Looking to see who’s a cheery harbinger of spring? See my post about Dark-Eyed Juncos here.
First Look of the Season
A few weeks ago, in early March, I was in the car with my family when I exclaimed, “Oh look, the vultures are back!”. I was looking out the window and I could see several black birds wobbling in the air currents over the highway and nearby woods. I excitedly peered out the window (let me reassure you, I was not driving), craning for a better look, when I heard a snicker. Glancing over at my husband and children, I saw they were looking at me with knowing smirks. “What?” I said. “But they’re cool…”.
Getting to Know Turkey Vultures
First of all, let’s clear something up: Turkey Vultures are not turkeys. Not at all. We don’t really know how they got that name but there’s some speculation that early European settlers saw these vultures and thought they looked a bit like turkeys, with their bald, wrinkly, red heads (turkeys being a bird species the colonists had just learned about and seemingly had become enamored with). I think the vulture’s beady eyes may have added to the similarities (not that there’s anything wrong with beady eyes!). Turkey Vultures are New World Vultures which means, while they may look like Old World Vultures and perform similar functions in the ecosystem, they are not that closely related to Old World Vultures and so are classified in a different taxonomic order. They are the most common vulture of the New World vultures.
So, now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s find out more about these fascinating birds. Turkey Vultures, scientifically known as Cathartes aura, are large birds with wingspans of up to six feet. They are easily identified in flight because they look like they wobble as they slowly soar, searching for carrion below. Their wings have a distinctive V-shape that make them recognizable from a distance. They look like more graceful flyers at higher altitudes, barely flapping their wings as they ride thermal air currents. This method of flight allows them to cover vast distances while expending minimal energy, a remarkable feat considering their size.
Closer up, Turkey Vultures have bald, red heads and large, light-colored hooked beaks. To me, their heads look small compared to their bodies. Their feathers are black and dark brown although from the underside you can see gray, sometimes almost white, flight feathers that stand out against dark feathers on their body and upper portion of their wings, the marginal coverts, all of which makes for a very pretty view when backlit by the sun.
I’ve never heard a Turkey Vulture vocalize and now I know why – I would not even know the sound I heard was a bird! Turkey Vultures lack a syrinx, the vocal organ in birds that allows them to produce their multi-tonal songs. A Turkey Vulture’s lyrical song is more like a Dementor’s call, a hissy grunt, a whispered shriek. You can listen for yourself here and here.
Nature’s Clean-Up Crew
While we may find their choice of diet unappetizing, Turkey Vultures are essential members of nature’s clean-up crew, being carrion eaters. Unlike most birds, Turkey Vultures have a well-developed olfactory bulb in their brain, giving them a keen sense of smell that allows them to detect the scent of decaying flesh from long distances. They have pretty good eye-sight too, helping them track a carcass as they spiral down in tighter and tighter circles. This ability to locate carrion quickly is essential, especially during warmer weather when decomposition accelerates. They prefer freshly dead animals but sometimes have to wait for carcasses to soften because their bills are not strong enough to handle tough hides from larger animals. They’ll also take advantage of the work started by other carrion eaters with stronger bills. Good thing their stomachs are very acidic, enabling them to digest even tainted carrion, making them efficient scavengers who help remove carcasses from the environment and prevent the spread of disease.
A Unique Defense Mechanism
One unusual and interesting behavior of Turkey Vultures is their defense mechanism against predators. When threatened, they will vomit a foul-smelling substance that not only repels predators but also serves as a distraction, allowing the vulture to make a quick getaway. This is beat out by an even more unusual and interesting behavior – Turkey Vultures will defecate on their feet to cool off. While not a defense mechanism, you have to admit, that is pretty gross, something my kids loved to read about when they were young in their book of gross animal facts (yes, there are books like that!).
Social Scavengers
Turkey Vultures are surprisingly social birds. You will usually see two or three together in the sky, although they can number in the thousands when migrating. They often roost in large groups or kettles, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, particularly during the colder months. These communal roosts provide safety in numbers and maybe allow them to share information about food sources. They are not communal feeders; usually just one vulture feeds at a time, although several may gather around the carcass impatiently waiting their turn.
Range and Habitat
Turkey Vultures live year round in the southeastern US, Central, and South America, with breeding ranges in the rest of the US and southern Canada (and way to the south in South America). Migrating birds travel hundreds or even thousands of miles each year between their breeding and wintering grounds. The sight of a kettle of vultures spiraling upwards on a warm thermal is a classic harbinger of the changing seasons.
My husband and I visited Key West in January one year, flying to Miami and driving the rest of the way to Key West. We had the chance to explore a little in Miami but the thing that really stands out in my memories was the hundreds of vultures filling the skies. I guess I had never really wondered where they went in the winter, I just noticed when they returned in early spring. I was astounded by how many vultures were congregating around Miami, apparently a happening spot for more than just (human) snowbirds and college students on spring break.
I’ve never seen a Turkey Vulture roost at night (or even sitting in a tree during the day!) but apparently they like trees, rocks, and cliffs. They tend to forage in fields and open woods and, of course, along our highways and roads where carrion is plentiful. They aren’t usually found in dense forests, which makes sense given their large wingspan.
Nest sites tend to be isolated from human activity, in sheltered areas like hollow trees or logs, cliffs or caves, or abandoned buildings. Turkey Vultures don’t build full nests but will scrape out an area to use. They often return to previous nest sites. Turkey vultures have small clutches of eggs, 1-3 one time a year, which take about one to two months to hatch.
Conservation Status and Threats
Turkey Vulture populations have increased in the last 50 years so are considered of low conservation concern. However, they are at risk of secondary poisoning, since they eat carrion, including rodents who have been killed by rodenticides (please avoid using poison to address mice and rat problems!). Vultures are also vulnerable to lead poisoning because they may eat animals shot by hunters or discarded meat from hunts. And like all species, Turkey Vultures face continued risks from climate change and habitat loss. Turkey Vultures are covered by legal protections in the US through the Migratory Bird Treat Act of 1918, Canada by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds, and Mexico by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals.
Cultural Significance
Throughout history, Turkey Vultures have held a special place in the cultures of indigenous peoples across the Americas. They are often seen as symbols of renewal and purification, representing the cycle of life and death in the natural world. In some traditions, they are even believed to possess mystical powers or serve as messengers between the spirit world and the living.
From Ick to Awesome
While they may not be the most conventionally appealing birds, Turkey Vultures are undeniably fascinating creatures with unusual traits and behaviors. As we welcome the arrival of spring, let’s take a moment to appreciate the important role these birds play in our ecosystems and marvel at the complexity of the natural world. The next time you spot Turkey Vultures soaring overhead, you can give thanks for their vital contributions to the environment. And, if you are lucky, maybe you will see one perched somewhere pooping on their feet!
Let’s connect!
Do you see turkey vultures or any species of vulture in your area? What behaviors have you observed? I’m curious, what feelings or reactions did you have seeing or thinking about them in the past? Comment below or visit the From Flora to Fauna Facebook page and share your thoughts (and photos!) there.
For more information:
Information about Turkey Vultures from All About Birds
Information about Turkey Vultures from Audubon
Cool Turkey Vulture migration map from Audubon
