With their bald pink heads and ominous dark wings turkey vultures have a distinctive look as they circle the skies searching for carrion. But what do these unusual birds actually sound like when not in flight? turkey vultures produce some rather fascinating vocalizations that reflect their unique biology.
Why Turkey Vultures Don’t Sing
Songbirds have a special vocal organ called the syrinx located at the junction of their trachea and bronchi that enables them to sing. The syrinx contains membranes that vibrate to produce sound. Turkey vultures, along with all other raptors, lack a syrinx. This means they have no ability to sing or make complex vocalizations.
However, this doesn’t mean turkey vultures are silent. They produce a variety of low hisses, grunts and wheezes that serve as communication. These odd sounds are produced by vibrating tissues in their throat and mouth rather than a syrinx.
Turkey Vulture Sounds When Irritated
Turkey vultures most commonly vocalize when irritated or trying to jostle for a position at a carcass. In these situations, they emit a loud, deep hiss that almost sounds like a snake. It’s a guttural “hssaaaah” type of sound.
They may also make a series of these hissing noises in succession if provoked or competing over food. The hisses serve as a signal for other vultures to back off and respect their space. These hisses can sound aggressive when the birds are very excited over a fresh carcass.
Turkey Vulture Sounds in Flight
Another common turkey vulture vocalization is a low-pitched whine or whimper. This high, nasally squeaking is often made in flight. It’s thought they probably make this sound when soaring in groups to communicate with each other.
The whine almost sounds like a short whistle or wind blowing. It can be heard from flocks of soaring vultures as they circle in the sky searching for their next meal down below. This helps the birds coordinate and alert each other to food sources.
Turkey Vulture Sounds at the Roost
In addition to hisses and whines, turkey vultures use a rapid staccato clattering when arriving at evening roosts. The sound is made by snapping their beaks and probably serves to coordinate roosting activity as the birds jostle for position in trees.
Turkey vultures roost communally, sometimes in the hundreds. So it’s important they have a way to “talk” to each other at the roost site. The beak clattering helps maintain order and spacing on crowded branches.
Why Turkey Vultures Make Minimal Sounds
With no syrinx, turkey vultures are limited in the sounds they can make. But they seem to have adapted with the ability to produce a few key vocalizations using other anatomical structures.
The types of sounds they do make all serve important functions – communicating at carcasses, while in flight and at communal roosting areas. So while turkey vultures will never sing a song, they aren’t completely silent and have developed some fascinating rasps, wheezes and rattles to get their point across.
Looking for ID Help?
Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.
Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Turkey Vulture Sounds
FAQ
Do turkey vultures squawk?
Are turkey vultures bad to have around?
Why are turkey vultures flying around my house?
How aggressive are turkey vultures?
Do turkey vultures make sounds?
Birders rarely hear Turkey Vultures make sounds, other than, if birds are close by, the flapping of the large bird’s wings, or wind rushing through them. Turkey Vultures do sometimes vocalize, though: When scuffling over food, or at the nest site, they may hiss. They also make clucking and wheezing sounds.
Do turkey vultures have voice boxes?
Turkey vultures do not have voice boxes. They only grunt and hiss. Eerie sounds and images from a Turkey Vulture nest. The ghostly hissing is the actual sound made by the turkey vulture chicks – no chirping here. Show more Turkey vultures do not have voice boxes. They only grunt and hiss. Eerie sounds and images from a Turkey Vulture nest.
What do turkey vultures look like when soaring?
Turkey Vultures rock back and forth when soaring. The underwings are two-toned: silvery flight feathers with black wing-linings. The undertail is also light. Juveniles have gray heads while newly hatched birds have black heads. When the birds are soaring, it is difficult to see the color of the head.
How do turkey vultures communicate?
They typically communicate through non-vocal sounds and body language. Let’s have a look at a few of the sounds and behaviors you might associate with turkey vultures: Hissing and Grunting: When they feel threatened or are defending their territory, turkey vultures can emit hissing and grunting sounds as a form of vocalization.