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Photo by Unknown Photographer
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S3?B
External links
General information
The turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, can be found throughout the Americas, from southern Canada to southern South America. In Utah, birds are present statewide during summer months, though usually absent from higher elevations; they migrate south for winter. They are often seen soaring in search of food in both forested and open habitats, but more commonly in the latter. They roost in large flocks at night in trees, frequently near or over water. Such roosts are not commonly seen, however, because they are often located away from human disturbance.
The turkey vulture eats mainly carrion (animals already dead), frequently of small animals such as amphibians and rodents, and can survive for over two weeks without food. It infrequently eats ripe or rotten fruits or kills small animals; food is located using sight and smell. The age at which birds reach sexual maturity is not known, though they likely do not reproduce until they are several years old. Eggs are laid in secluded areas such as caves, crevices in cliffs, or tree thickets. No nest is built, though there may be some preparation of the nest site. Usually there are two eggs, but sometimes one or three eggs are laid; both sexes incubate the eggs for 37 to 41 days. Both parents feed nestlings by regurgitation. Young are able to fly after about 11 weeks, though fledging is a gradual process. The family may stay together several months after young fledge. If a nest is lost, the parents do not re-nest.
Phenology
In one study, most left roost 3.5-5 hours after sunrise. May remain at roost up to 2 or more days during rainy weather. (Palmer 1988).
Species range
BREEDS: southern British Columbia to southern Manitoba and New England, south through U.S. and Middle America to South America and Greater Antilles (introduced in Puerto Rico). Recently has expanded range in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. NORTHERN WINTER: mainly from northern California, Arizona, Nebraska, Ohio Valley, and Maryland south. Winter concentrations occur Texas, Florida, and along the Wabash River in Indiana (Root 1988).
Migration
Generally arrives in northernmost breeding areas in March-April, departs September-November (Bent 1937). Large numbers pass through Panama late February-early April and October-November (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989). Migrants and residents coexist in Panama from Novemnber to April (Smith 1980). Large migratory flocks pass through Costa Rica, mainly over Caribbean lowlands, in both fall (September-October) and spring (late January to mid-May (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Generally avoids crossing wide expanses of water. Has been described as nomadic, rather than migratory, in North America.
Habitat
Forested and open situations, more commonly in the latter, from lowlands to mountains (AOU 1983). May roost in large flocks at night in trees; roosts often near or over water. In Pennsylvania, selected large conifers for mid-winter roost (Wright et al. 1986). Eggs are laid in caves (especially in West); on cliffs; in hollow logs, trees, or stumps (tree-cavity nesting formerly more common); on ground in dense shrubbery (especially in eastern U.S.); sometimes in/under abandoned building in woods (Jackson 1983, Palmer 1988); sometimes in abandoned hawk nest (Hilty and Brown 1986). In Pennsylvania/Maryland, nested in areas that were roadless, forested, and undeveloped (Coleman and Fraser 1989).
Food habits
Eats mainly vertebrate carrion (domestic animals and wild sources, down to the size of small amphibians; often small mammals); prefers fresh meat. Sometimes eats ripe or rotten fruits. Sometimes kills small animals. Locates food visually and/or by odor. Can survive for over two weeks without food.
Ecology
Roosts singly or in groups. Average distance between communal roost and feeding site was 8 km in Maryland/Pennsylvania (Coleman and Fraser 1987). Mean summer range of two known breeders was 6942 hectares; 90% of locations were within 10 kilometers of roost (Kirk and Mossman 1998). Roosts may be temporary (at a food source), seasonal (spring-fall), or permanent (peak numbers in early winter) (Palmer 1988). Human disturbance and canid predation may be significant causes of nest failure in the eastern U.S. (Coleman and Fraser 1989).
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size is usually 2. Incubation lasts 5-6 weeks, by both sexes. Young first fly at about 9 weeks. Family may stay together several months after young fledge. Does not renest if clutch is lost.
Threats or limiting factors
According to Ehrlich et al. (1992), jeopardized by widespread eggshell thinning resulting from ingestion of contaminated food.
References
- Kirk, D. A., and M. J. Mossman. 1998. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). Birds of North America 339: 32 pp.
- Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American Birds, Second Ed. Academic Press, San Diego. 347 pp.
