Photo: Jairmoreirafotografia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a member of the Cathartidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Cathartidae New World Vultures
- Genus Cathartes
- Species aura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Cathartidae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike in plumage and are similar in size.
Juvenile appearance
Immatures have a gray head with a black-tipped bill; the bare head turns dusky then red as the bird matures.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Turkey Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Turkey Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a member of the Cathartidae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 50.9 cm and a tail of around 24.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 28.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Turkey Vulture?
The Turkey Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Turkey Vulture live?
The Turkey Vulture is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA widespread, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Turkey Vulture belong to?
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) belongs to the Cathartidae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Turkey Vulture eat?
The Turkey Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Turkey Vulture migrate?
The Turkey Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Turkey Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Turkey Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the Turkey Vulture — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Turkey Vulture's range?
The Turkey Vulture has a mapped global range of about 28.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Black Vulture vs Turkey Vulture: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Black Vulture from a Turkey Vulture — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.