67-year annual average: 921992-2001: 206Record year: 367 (1999)Best chance to see: Early November.Longterm trends: Increasing slowly, probably in response to northward expansion of breeding range into southern Canada.
Turkey vultures are a common sight in many parts of North and South America With their large wingspans, distinctive flight patterns, and bald red heads, these scavengers are easily recognizable But are turkey vultures actually birds of prey?
The answer is somewhat complicated. Turkey vultures share some characteristics with predatory raptors, but they also have some key differences. Here is a deeper look at what defines a bird of prey and how the turkey vulture fits in.
What Makes a Bird a Bird of Prey?
Birds of prey, also called raptors, are carnivorous birds that primarily hunt and feed on vertebrates like mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and other birds. Some key features of raptors include:
- Strong, sharp talons for seizing and killing prey
- Curved beaks for tearing flesh
- Excellent eyesight for detecting prey from afar
- Strong legs and powerful hooked bills for tearing prey apart
- Solitary hunters that feed alone rather than in groups
Examples of classic predatory birds include hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, and osprey. So vultures are indeed considered raptors by definition. However, turkey vultures have some distinct differences from other raptorial species.
How Turkey Vultures Are Unique
While turkey vultures are taxonomically classified as raptors, they have some traits and behaviors that set them apart from other birds of prey
- Primarily scavengers, rarely killing live prey
- Feed in groups at carcass sites rather than alone
- Possess a keen sense of smell to find carcasses, unique for raptors
- Weak talons and beaks adapted for tearing, not killing
- Soaring and gliding flight pattern rather than speedy hunting dives
So while turkey vultures occupy the same taxonomic order as eagles, hawks, and falcons (Cathartiformes), they fill more of a niche as cleanup crews rather than active predators. Their anatomy and behavior also differ considerably from other raptorial birds that hunt and kill live animals.
Turkey Vulture Feeding Ecology
Turkey vultures eat mostly carrion supplied by other predator kills or animals that died from other causes. Their diet consists of dead mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. On rare occasions, turkey vultures may kill extremely sick, weak, or injured animals but this makes up a very small percentage of their diet.
Turkey vultures find food using their keen eyesight to scan the ground below while soaring, and by using their highly developed sense of smell. Once a carcass is detected, turkey vultures circle down to feed. They often feed in large communal groups and eat until the carcass is stripped to the bone.
Are Turkey Vultures True Predators?
While possessing some adaptations for a raptorial lifestyle, such as sharp beaks and talons, turkey vultures lack the hunting skills and instincts of hawks, eagles, and falcons. Their feet and talons are relatively weak compared to other raptors, making them ill-equipped for subduing large, struggling prey. Turkey vultures also lack a large crop for gorging on prey items like eagles and vultures that actively hunt and kill.
So while turkey vultures are classified as raptors and share some features with predatory birds, their scavenging habits and anatomical adaptations for finding and consuming carrion set them apart from hawks, eagles, falcons and other birds of prey that primarily hunt live animals. They occupy a unique niche as one of the few obligate scavenging raptors.
Benefits of Turkey Vultures as Scavengers
As primary scavengers rather than predators, turkey vultures provide important ecosystem services:
- Help control disease by consuming carrion that could otherwise spread bacteria and viruses.
- Recycle nutrients back into the food web from dead animal matter.
- Help keep landscapes clean by removing animal carcasses.
- Indicate the presence of carcasses for other scavenging species through circling flight patterns.
So while they do not actively hunt and kill prey like hawks or eagles, turkey vultures are still birds of prey that provide vital functions in their environments as cleanup crews. Their unique adaptations allow them to fill this specific niche as scavengers.
Turkey Vultures vs. Black Vultures
Turkey vultures occupy a similar niche to black vultures, which are also carrion feeders. However, black vultures tend to be more aggressive than turkey vultures and will sometimes kill vulnerable livestock and pets. Black vultures also lack the strong sense of smell that allows turkey vultures to locate carcasses. The two species co-exist in many of the same ranges across the Americas.
To summarize, while turkey vultures are classified taxonomically as raptors, they lack most of the hunting skills and adaptations possessed by hawks, eagles, falcons, and other carnivorous birds of prey. As obligate scavengers that feed on carrion rather than live kills, the turkey vulture occupies a unique niche among birds of prey. Their scavenging lifestyle provides vital ecosystem services related to disease control, nutrient cycling, and cleaning the landscape. So turkey vultures can be considered raptors, but not predatory rapters. Their specialized adaptations allow them to locate and consume decaying animals that most other raptors do not consume.
What Size is a Turkey Vulture?
- Belong to the family Cathartidae, a group of 7 species of New World Vultures.
- Are so named because their red, featherless heads resemble those of Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).
- Although they feed almost exclusively on carrion (dead animals), they sometimes take live prey.
- Are the most migratory of all vultures.
- Their plumage is dark brown, not black.
- When flying, Turkey Vultures, hold their wings in a “V” above their backs, creating a slight dihedral that stabilizes their flight in turbulance.
- Often roost in groups of several hundred birds.
- Have an acute sense of smell, which enables them to find carrion by both smell and sight.
- Communicate vocally in hisses and grunts.
- Nestling Turkey Vultures projectile vomit to defend themselves.
- Are unable to carry off their carrion.
A.K.A. T., Turkey Buzzard
Field marks: Large, dark brown, heavy-bodied and small-headed, carrion-eating bird, with a longish tail and two-toned underwings. Wings held above the horizontal in a strong dihedral, or “V.”
Flight behavior: Typically migrates in flocks of up to hundreds of birds. Soars extensively on migration. Often rocks from side to side while soaring. Rarely flaps. Uses thermals; rarely migrates early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Local populations present through early December.
Meet a Bird of Prey – Turkey Vulture
Are turkey vultures in your backyard?
However, they are not likely to be in your backyard unless something has died or else you have a very large backyard. The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds.
Are turkey vultures a bird?
The Old-World vultures are relatively straightforward, but there is a group of American birds whose relationship with them is still under assessment. Turkey vultures are part of this group, and so named because they have red, featherless heads, sort of like a turkey.
Are turkey vultures a New World vulture?
The Turkey vulture ( Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. Like all New World vultures, it is not closely related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Turkey vulture has very few natural predators and in the United States, it receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
Why do turkey vultures eat humans?
Its scientific name, , is far more pleasant. It means either “golden purifier” or “purifying breeze.” As a defense mechanism, Turkey Vultures may vomit on a bird, animal, or human that gets too close. Considering what they eat, this can be a powerful weapon.