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 fascinating bird species found throughout the Americas. With their large wingspans, bald red heads, and impressive flying abilities, turkey vultures have captivated bird enthusiasts for years. One question that often comes up about these birds is – how long do turkey vultures live? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the lifespan and longevity of turkey vultures.
Overview of Turkey Vultures
Before diving into their lifespan let’s do a quick overview of some key facts about turkey vultures
-
Turkey vultures are New World vultures, meaning they are found in the Americas They range from Canada down to Chile and Argentina
-
They are scavengers that primarily eat carrion. Their excellent sense of smell helps them locate dead animals.
-
Turkey vultures are quite large, with wingspans up to 6 feet across. They are graceful fliers, using thermals and wind currents to soar with minimal flapping.
-
They have featherless red heads, which helps keep them clean when feasting on carrion.
-
Turkey vultures play an important ecological role as nature’s clean-up crew, removing carcasses from the landscape.
Typical Lifespan in the Wild
Now onto the main question – how long do turkey vultures usually live?
In the wild the average lifespan for turkey vultures is around 16 years. However, some individuals have been documented living into their late 20s or even 30+ years old.
The oldest known wild turkey vulture was found to be over 30 years old based on banding records. But longtime survival past 20 years is not very common.
A 16 year average lifespan is on the longer side for wild bird species. Many smaller songbirds may only live 2-5 years on average.
Turkey vultures have adapted to survive and thrive scavenging on carrion. Their bald heads, strong immune systems, and impressive flying abilities all help contribute to their relatively long lifespans.
Factors Affecting Lifespan
Several key factors influence the longevity of wild turkey vultures:
-
Food availability – Access to abundant carrion and prey is critical. Times of famine can lead to starvation.
-
Disease – Turkey vultures can contract illnesses like avian influenza. But they have adapted strong immune systems to handle carrion.
-
Predators – Predation is uncommon thanks to turkey vultures’ large size and defensive vomiting. But golden eagles occasionally prey on young.
-
Human activities – Collisions with vehicles or wind turbines, lead ammunition poisoning, and habitat loss can increase mortality.
-
Weather extremes – Harsh winters or droughts may decrease food supply and survival odds.
So when food is plentiful, diseases are avoided, predators are scarce, and the weather cooperates, turkey vultures stand a good chance of living 15+ years. But lifespan can dip lower when these conditions are less favorable.
Lifespan in Captivity
Under human care in zoos, sanctuaries, and raptor centers, turkey vultures may enjoy even longer lifespans than in the wild.
The oldest known captive turkey vulture lived over 48 years. This was a male turkey vulture named Lord Richard, who hatched in 1974 and resided at Lindsay Wildlife Experience in California.
Another captive male turkey vulture named Nero lived an impressive 47 years after being taken into a research study in 1974. He later became an educational bird at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center.
Thanks to regular veterinary care, balanced diets, and reduced threats, captive turkey vultures can frequently reach ages over 30 years old. Their average captive lifespan is estimated around 25-30 years.
Turkey Vulture Record Holders
To summarize some of the key lifespan records:
-
Oldest wild turkey vulture: 30+ years old
-
Oldest captive turkey vulture: 48+ years old (Lord Richard)
-
Average wild lifespan: Around 16 years
-
Average captive lifespan: Around 25-30 years
So while 16 years is typical in the wild, turkey vultures clearly have the potential under the right circumstances to live much longer. Their adaptations allow for decades of gracefully soaring over the landscapes of the Americas.
In the end, turkey vultures can be impressively long-lived birds compared to many other species. If they survive the challenges of their scavenging lifestyles, make it through migration seasons, and avoid predators and diseases, they stand a chance of living 20+ years or more. With excellent care in captivity, turkey vultures have demonstrated they can survive nearly 50 years. So next time you see one of these unique vultures cruising by overhead, know that it could be older and wiser than you might expect!
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.