Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758)
1.5 kgWeight
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures.
Busiest months: April–May · Most records: United States, Canada, Costa Rica
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: April–May · Most records: United States, Canada, Costa Rica
Turkey Vulture has been recorded at 2,001 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 32 countries and regions.
Records by month Northern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Estero Llano Grande SP WBCUnited States22,710 records
- Point Pelee National ParkCanada18,822 records
- Bombay Hook National Wildlife RefugeUnited States17,581 records
More places
- Cape Island – Cape May Point SPUnited States16,080 records
- Edwin B. Forsythe NWRUnited States14,956 records
- Audubon Corkscrew Swamp SanctuaryUnited States14,847 records
- Cape Island – South Cape May MeadowsUnited States14,274 records
- Madera Canyon – Santa Rita LodgeUnited States13,491 records
- IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, IrvineUnited States13,107 records
- Santa Ana NWRUnited States12,686 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Turkey Vulture?
The Turkey Vulture weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Turkey Vulture live?
Its breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: widespread. It is most often recorded in United States, Canada and Costa Rica.
When is the best time to see the Turkey Vulture?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April and May (Northern Hemisphere).
Is the Turkey Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Turkey Vulture as Least Concern.
What does the Turkey Vulture eat?
Main food: Carrion.
What family is the Turkey Vulture in?
It belongs to the family New World Vultures (Cathartidae), order Accipitriformes.
At a glance
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Habitat
- Towns & farmland
- Diet
- Carrion
- Lifestyle
- Active on the ground
- Migration
- Partial migrant
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 508 mm
- Tail
- 244 mm
- Bill
- 52 mm
- Tarsus
- 54 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
North America, Middle America, South America: widespread
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- New World Vultures Cathartidae
- Genus
- Cathartes
Other birds in the genus Cathartes
Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus
Greater Yellow-headed VultureCathartes melambrotus
California CondorGymnogyps californianus
King VultureSarcoramphus papa
Andean CondorVultur gryphus
Black VultureCoragyps atratus
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Seig. ↗
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