Animal Field Guide

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura
(Cathartidae)

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4B

Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS: none
BLM: none

Vultures are large, black birds. When soaring overhead, the wings have a two-toned gray and black appearance. Turkey vultures often hold their wings in a shallow "V" and rock from side to side when soaring. The head usually appears small in relation to the body. The red color of the head in adults is often hard to see on flying birds. Young birds have a blackish-gray heads. Turkey vultures range in length from 26-32 inches and have a wingspan of 68-72 inches.

Adult golden eagles and immature bald eagles are slightly larger, usually soar with wings held flat instead of in a "v," and have wings that appear all one shade instead of two-toned. common ravens are much smaller and have a wedge-shaped tail.

Turkey vultures often congregate in large roosting and feeding flocks. They migrate to the southern United States and Central America for the winter (FWP). In the Bozeman area, no perceptible migration periods or peaks are seen (Skaar 1969).

Turkey vultures forage in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, badlands, open woodlands, and farmlands (FWP). Nesting in the northern Rockies is usually done on cliff ledges under overhangs, or in rock crevices, often in river valleys (Johnsgard 1986).

Carrion is the primary food, but they sometimes prey on small mammals.

Various reports in the 1870s and 1880s placed the bird as more abundant than it is today (Skaar 1969). Generally found below 8000' at this latitude (Johnsgard 1986).

Turkey vultures nest in caves, large hollow trees, abandoned buildings, and, rarely on the ground or in trees. They do not construct nests, but simply lay their eggs on whatever material is available. Two, or, rarely, three eggs are laid in April or May. Incubation lasts 38 to 41 days. The young, fed by regurgitation, remain in the nest about eight to 10 weeks.