How long do turkey vultures live?
The oldest Turkey Vulture on record lived to 20.8 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild turkey vultures live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 20.8 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 11 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–3 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 25.2–31.9 in, 70.5–86.8 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 of 2
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Turkey Vulture can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Turkey vultures usually start breeding at about 11 years old. Each season a pair lays 1–3 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 28–40 days to hatch.
How turkey vultures compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other new world vultures on this site.
- Black Vulture25.5 years
More about turkey vultures
Frequently asked
How long do turkey vultures live?
The longest-lived Turkey Vulture on record reached 20.8 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild turkey vultures live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Turkey Vulture when it first breeds?
Usually about 11 years old.
What is the oldest Turkey Vulture ever recorded?
20.8 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Turkey Vulture raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–3 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info