Vultures

Vultures are large, scavenging birds of prey known for their role in cleaning up ecosystems by feeding on carrion. They have bald heads, sharp beaks, and strong talons, adapted for tearing flesh. Their wings are broad and long, allowing them to soar for hours while searching for food from high altitudes. Vultures are found in both Old World (Africa, Asia, and Europe) and New World (North and South America) species. They play a vital role in preventing the spread of disease by consuming carcasses. Vultures are often misunderstood but are essential to maintaining ecological balance.

Learn About our Vulture Ambassadors

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

  • 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.

  • Diet

    Turkey vultures are scavengers, feeding primarily on carrion (dead animals).

  • Size

    Turkey vultures are 25-32 inches long, have a wingspan of 5.5-6 feet, and weigh between 3-5.5 pounds.

  • 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 Turkey Vulture 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

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

These vultures are known for their keen sense of sight and are often seen soaring high in the sky in search of food. Unlike turkey vultures, black vultures rely more on sight than smell to locate carcasses. They are opportunistic feeders and play an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning up dead animals.

CONSERVATION STATUS: LEAST CONCERN

Range

Black vultures are found primarily in the Americas, from the southern United States to South America.

Fast Facts

  • Description

    The black vulture has a robust body, with predominantly black plumage, and a distinctive, bare, dark gray head. Its wings are broad and long, often appearing slightly shorter than those of its close relative, the turkey vulture

  • Diet

    Black vultures are primarily scavengers, feeding on the carcasses of dead animals.

  • Size

    Black vultures are medium-sized birds with a wingspan of about 5-5.5 feet and a body length of around 2-2.5 feet, weighing between 3-5 pounds.

  • Lifespan

    Wild: 10-20 years

    Human care: 30 years

Black vultures are known to be quite social and often roost together in large groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are also capable of working together when feeding, using teamwork to chase away other scavengers from a carcass.

Fun Fact

Our Black Vulture Ambassador

Igor

Igor was stolen from the wild as a chick. The people who took him from the wild sttampted to raise him until they relized that vultures do not make good pets. They tried to release Igor back into the wild, but he became a nuisance and kept approaching people and begging for food; he even stole a few picnics in a local park! Wildlife officers were able to obtain Igor and took him to the Auburn University Wildlife hospital, where it was quickly determined that he was imprinted on humans. Afterwards, he became a permenant resident of Raptor Hallow Sanctuary. Igor is full of personality and is always a crowd favorite on education programs and in our free flight shows, endlessly making people laugh.

Igor has been at the sanctuary since 2018