Diet
What do turkey vultures eat?
Carrion, found largely by smell.
New World vultures (Cathartidae)Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Spring and summer diet
- Carrion of all kinds
Fall and winter diet
- Carrion; roadkill in winter
Best feeder foods
- None — never put out meat; it draws pests
Circles low over neighborhoods on rising thermals and roosts communally in tall trees.
Where turkey vultures need winter food
Regions where turkey vultures are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do turkey vultures eat?
Carrion, found largely by smell.
What is the best food to feed turkey vultures?
None — never put out meat; it draws pests.
What do turkey vultures eat in winter?
Carrion; roadkill in winter.
Sources
- Turkey Vulture — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Turkey Vulture life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- 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.