The Migratory Patterns of Turkey Vultures Across North America

With their dark wings and bald red heads, turkey vultures are a familiar sight in the skies over much of North and South America. But do these ubiquitous scavengers stay put year-round? Or do turkey vultures migrate to escape the harsh winters? In this article, we’ll explore the migratory patterns of this widespread New World vulture.

Partial Migration Based on Latitude

The turkey vulture exhibits a pattern of “partial migration” throughout its range. This means some populations migrate while others are year-round residents What determines whether a vulture will migrate or not? The key factor is latitude

Turkey vultures that breed at northern latitudes tend to migrate south for the winter. The severity of winter weather makes it challenging for them to find carrion food sources when the ground is frozen or covered in snow Heading south allows them to continue scavenging through the colder months

In contrast, turkey vultures that nest further south are less migratory. Southern populations from the southern U.S. through Central America are often year-round residents that deal with mild winters. They have access to carrion through the winter, eliminating the need to migrate.

So in general, the further north a turkey vulture population breeds, the more likely it is to migrate moderate to long distances to overwinter Southern breeding populations are more sedentary and often remain in the same region year-round

Leapfrog Migration Pattern

The most fascinating aspect of turkey vulture migration is their “leapfrog” pattern. More northern breeding populations don’t just migrate a short distance south. Instead, they leapfrog over more southern populations to overwinter even farther south.

For example, vultures that nest in Canada may migrate all the way to Central America or even South America for the winter months. Meanwhile, vultures that nest in the southern U.S. only migrate a short distance southward for the winter. This creates a criss-crossing migration pattern down the continents.

There are a couple theorized reasons for this leapfrog behavior:

• It prevents overcrowding of wintering grounds. Different populations occupy different wintering areas.

• Northern migrants are physically larger. They can compete better with residents further south.

• The long migration prepares northern birds for breeding. It’s an arduous journey.

So this leapfrog pattern allows turkey vultures from more northern areas to take advantage of the abundant food sources further south during winter.

Migration Distances and Routes

Turkey vultures breeding in the most northern areas of North America migrate the farthest south. For example, Canada’s breeding population heads all the way to South America for the winter months. Their round trip journey can exceed 5,000 miles annually!

Birds that nest in the northeastern U.S. have a more moderate migration. They head to the southeastern states like North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia for winter. From there, some may continue into Florida or along the Gulf Coast. Their migration route follows the Appalachian mountain chain.

Further west, turkey vultures that breed in the northern U.S. states and Canadian provinces take a central migration route through the Great Plains and Mexico into Central America. A few hardy individuals make it as far as northern South America. These western migrants may log between 2,000-4,000 miles round trip each year.

Southern breeding populations from the southern U.S. through Central America are fairly sedentary in comparison. They may migrate just a few hundred miles further south, or not migrate at all. But a small portion of the southern migrants do intermix with the northern populations overwintering in South America.

Efficient Soaring Migrants

One thing that allows turkey vultures to complete these epic journeys is their skillful use of air currents and thermals. Turkey vultures rarely need to flap their wings. Instead they soar for hours each day, efficiently riding air currents.

This soaring and gliding approach allows turkey vultures to migrate long distances with minimal effort. They converge in large flocks along migration routes, spiraling upwards on thermals to gain altitude before gliding long distances. It’s an amazing sight to witness hundreds of vultures kettling upward in unison!

In ideal conditions, migrating turkey vultures may travel 200 miles or more in a single day. But they also stop to rest and feed regularly when weather conditions are unfavorable. This interrupted migration means it can take 6-8 weeks to complete their fall and spring journeys.

Essential Scavengers

While many people have an unfair bias against these bald headed birds, turkey vultures provide an essential ecosystem service across their range. Without them and other scavengers, diseases would spread more rapidly from rotting carcasses.

By quickly locating and consuming animal remains, turkey vultures help suppress bacteria and pathogens. Their migration and overwintering patterns bring these benefits across multiple continents. So the next time you see turkey vultures gracefully soaring overhead, appreciate the epic journeys these migrants make each year!