Perch Supply
New World vultures (Cathartidae)

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura. Carrion, found largely by smell.

New World vultures (Cathartidae)Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Scientific name
Cathartes aura
Length
25.2–31.9 in
Weight
70.5–86.8 oz
Nest
No nest built — eggs laid in a cave, hollow log or old building
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
1–3 eggs
Incubation
28–40 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Black-brown with a bare red head
  • Long wings held in a shallow V, rocking in flight
  • Pale flight feathers below

Voice

Hisses and grunts; no true call.

Diet and feeding

Carrion, found largely by smell.

What do turkey vultures eat? · Best feeder for turkey vultures

Turkey Vultures by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentFebruary–June
AlbertaSummer breederApril–June
ArizonaYear-round residentFebruary–June
ArkansasYear-round residentMarch–June
British ColumbiaSummer breederApril–June
CaliforniaYear-round residentFebruary–June
ColoradoSummer breederMarch–June
ConnecticutSummer breederMarch–June
DelawareYear-round residentMarch–June
FloridaYear-round residentFebruary–June
GeorgiaYear-round residentFebruary–June
IdahoSummer breederMarch–June
IllinoisSummer breederMarch–June
IndianaSummer breederMarch–June
IowaSummer breederMarch–June
KansasSummer breederMarch–June
KentuckyYear-round residentMarch–June
LouisianaYear-round residentFebruary–June
MaineSummer breederApril–June
ManitobaSummer breederApril–June
MarylandYear-round residentMarch–June
MassachusettsSummer breederMarch–June
MichiganSummer breederMarch–June
MinnesotaSummer breederApril–June
MississippiYear-round residentFebruary–June
MissouriSummer breederMarch–June
MontanaSummer breederApril–June
NebraskaSummer breederMarch–June
NevadaSummer breederMarch–June
New BrunswickSummer breederApril–June
New HampshireSummer breederApril–June
New JerseySummer breederMarch–June
New MexicoYear-round residentMarch–June
New YorkSummer breederMarch–June
North CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–June
North DakotaSummer breederApril–June
Nova ScotiaSummer breederApril–June
OhioSummer breederMarch–June
OklahomaSummer breederMarch–June
OntarioSummer breederApril–June
OregonYear-round residentMarch–June
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMarch–June
QuebecSummer breederApril–June
Rhode IslandSummer breederMarch–June
SaskatchewanSummer breederApril–June
South CarolinaYear-round residentFebruary–June
South DakotaSummer breederMarch–June
TennesseeYear-round residentMarch–June
TexasYear-round residentFebruary–June
UtahSummer breederMarch–June
VermontSummer breederApril–June
VirginiaYear-round residentMarch–June
WashingtonYear-round residentMarch–June
West VirginiaYear-round residentMarch–June
WisconsinSummer breederApril–June
WyomingSummer breederApril–June

Frequently asked

What do turkey vultures eat?

Carrion, found largely by smell. At feeders: none — never put out meat; it draws pests.

How big is a Turkey Vulture?

25.2–31.9 in long and 70.5–86.8 oz.

Do turkey vultures use birdhouses?

No. No nest built — eggs laid in a cave, hollow log or old building.

Sources

  1. Turkey Vulture — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Turkey Vulture life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Turkey Vulture — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.