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.

Which feeder works best for turkey vultures →

Where turkey vultures need winter food

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

  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.