Diet of Turkey Vultures

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) uses keen eyesight and sense of smell to locate carrion or dead animals by roadsides or rivers. The name cathartes derives from the word "cleanser." As turkey vultures feed, they help rid their habitat of decaying flesh. This species does not pursue live creatures—even dying ones—for food.

  1. Scavenging Behavior

    • The turkey vulture roosts with a group in a large tree or city building and then forages alone. Pockets of heated, rising air—or thermals—allow the bird to soar in upward spirals. This bird can fly low for six hours scavenging under forest canopies, open areas and farms.

    Diet

    • Fresh carrion includes small mammals to dead cattle. Sometimes turkey vultures join black vultures at a large carcass. Other food sources include shoreline vegetation, fruit, pumpkin, pieces of crops, some insects and other invertebrates.

    After Eating

    • After stepping in its carrion and eating, the turkey vulture urinates on its legs to cool them through evaporation and to kill bacteria with acids. The turkey vulture does not suffer ill effects from eating infected or diseased flesh.

    Food as Defense

    • The turkey vulture sometimes vomits partially digested meat to ward off other animals. The vomit can sting the animal’s face.

    Habitat Advantages

    • Habitat ranges from grasslands, cliffs, forests, savannas and cities. Distribution ranges from South America to southern Canada. This range extends northward with the warming climate of northeastern North America, where turkey vultures can benefit from cleared land and increasing road-kill.