Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
The Turkey Vulture is a large scavenging bird found in North and South America. Turkey Vultures are excellent soarers, using thermals to glide for hours while searching for carrion. They have a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate food from great distances. These birds play a crucial ecological role by cleaning up animal carcasses, helping to prevent the spread of disease.
CONSERVATION STATUS: LEAST CONCERN
Range
Turkey Vultures are found throughout North and South America, from southern Canada to southern Chile and Argentina.
Fast Facts
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Description
Turkey Vultures are large birds with dark, mostly black plumage. They have a distinctive bald head, which is red in color, and a hooked beak. Their long, broad wings are suited for soaring, and their tails are long and fan-shaped.
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Diet
Turkey vultures are scavengers, feeding primarily on carrion (dead animals).
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Size
Turkey vultures are 25-32 inches long, have a wingspan of 5.5-6 feet, and weigh between 3-5.5 pounds.
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Lifespan
Wild: 10-2- years
Human care: 30 years
Turkey vultures are known for their excellent sense of smell, which helps them detect decaying animals from miles away. They also have a unique defense mechanism: when threatened, they may vomit on their attacker. This not only deters predators but also lightens their load, helping them to escape more easily.
Fun Fact
Our Wildlife Ambassadors
Puke
Puke's journey began when a barn was demolished in 2011, falling on his sibling and him. Wildlife rehabbers raised the chicks until they were ready to be released. Puke's sibling joined wild turkey vultures, but after multiple attempts to release Puke, it was determined he imprinted on his rescuers. After some time at a sanctuary in New York, Puke was transferred to Raptor Hallow where he educates visitors about the critical role vultures serve in the ecosystem as nature's clean-up crew.
Puke has been at the sanctuary since 2020
Vladimir
Vladimir (Vlad) was found in the Chicago area landing on people'sheads and shoulders to accept food handouts. He had been engaging in this behavior for three months before wildlife rehabbers were able to obtain him. Once in rehab, he continued to display behaviors that suggested he was a human imprint. For this reason, he was deemed non-releaseable and transferred to Raptor Hallow Sanctuary where he is in training to become an education ambassador.
Vlad has been at the sanctuary since 2024