How High Can Turkey Vultures Soar in the Skies?

Turkey vultures are a common sight in the skies of North and South America. These large birds are known for effortlessly riding thermals and currents high up in the air as they search for their next meal. But just how high do these carrion-eating birds fly on a regular basis? Let’s take a look at the aeronautical abilities of the turkey vulture.

Turkey Vultures Ride the Thermals

Turkey vultures don’t actually flap their wings all that often when in flight. Rather, they ride heated air currents called thermals to get around and spread their wings to coast. If you see several of them circling in the sky, they might just be riding a thermal to get higher for a long flight.

Thermals form when the sun heats up the ground, which in turn heats the air above it. This warmer air then rises in columns. Turkey vultures have learned to ride these rising columns of warm air upwards, sometimes reaching heights of a few thousand feet this way. They use their excellent eyesight to scout for both food and thermals from such heights.

They Can Reach Impressive Altitudes

While the typical cruising altitude for turkey vultures is between 1000 and 4000 feet, they are capable of reaching much greater heights when the need arises. Turkey vultures can fly as high as 40,000 feet in the air if they locate a thermal that rises that high

Reaching such extreme heights allows the birds to travel greater distances with less effort At around 10,000 feet, turkey vultures enter the realm of true soaring flight and are able to glide vast distances over land.

High altitude flight also aids migration. Scientists have recorded turkey vultures flying at altitudes of 20,000 feet and higher when migrating over long distances.

Why Do They Fly So High?

There are several advantages to flying at higher altitudes for turkey vultures:

Thermals are stronger the higher you go, allowing more effortless soaring.
They can see much more ground from greater heights, helping them spot food.
Flying high avoids overheating closer to the hot ground.
It allows them to travel further with less flapping.
High altitude wind currents aid migration over long distances.

So while turkey vultures generally cruise at modest heights, their ability to reach 40,000 feet helps maximize these advantages when needed.

Built for High Altitude Flight

Turkey vultures have evolved several key adaptations that allow them to fly at such soaring heights:

Large, energy efficient wings designed for gliding flight.
Lightweight bodies with lots of feathering to provide insulation at high altitudes.
A keen eyesight that can spot food and thermals from great heights.
An efficient circulatory system that thrives even at low oxygen levels.
Strong muscles providing thrust when flapping is needed.

Masters of Soaring Flight

Of all the soaring birds, turkey vultures are perhaps the most efficient and specialized soarers. They can travel over 150 miles in a single day utilizing thermals and wind currents alone. Their ability to remain aloft for hours while hardly flapping their wings is unparalleled in the bird world.

Next time you see some turkey vultures circling lazily overhead, remember they are masters of riding the skies. And while they may not seem to be expending much effort, to reach heights of up to 40,000 feet takes skill and specialized adaptations. Their seemingly effortless flight is a result of millions of years of evolution into supreme soaring birds.

how high can turkey vultures fly

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So many Turkey Vultures flying very high in the sky.

FAQ

Why do turkey vultures fly so high?

“They are built to soar. They have broad, long wings, which when extended catch those thermal updrafts, which is why we see them migrating over mountain ranges,” he says. “Eagles are powerful fliers with steady beating wings. Vultures soar almost exclusively.”

How high in the sky do vultures fly?

11,300 metres (37,100 feet). Vultures use their excellent eyesight to scan the landscape below from a relatively static aerial position. Instead of flying over a larger distance, they use elevation to expand their field of vision.

Which vulture can fly the highest?

One Rüppell’s Vulture holds the record for the highest flying bird in the world, reaching heights of 11,300 meters (37,100 ft) to be exact.

Why are turkey vultures illegal to shoot?

Vultures are a federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This means that the birds, their nests, and eggs cannot be killed or destroyed without a Migratory Bird Depredation Permit (see permit information below).

How does a turkey vulture fly?

The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals.

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.

How big is a turkey vulture?

Even so, with a length a bit more than two feet, and a five-foot plus wingspan, the Turkey Vulture is still a big and impressive bird.