The identification of Turkey vultures is relatively straightforward. Turkey vultures look black from a distance, but upon closer examination, they have black and blackish-brown plumage. This article discusses and illustrates the recognition of turkey vultures in flight, perched, their typical behavior, preferred habitat, and range. Table of Contents
The turkey vulture looks black from a distance, but it has parts that are black and blackish-brown. The back, neck, breasts, and belly are black. In perched birds, the folded wings consist of wing coverts and flight feathers and are a dark brown color. Turkey vultures, male and female, have unfeathered redheads and similar plumages, which makes it impossible to distinguish them solely on their appearance.
From afar, the plumage of a turkey vulture appears black. When viewed up close, subtle differences in tones of black and blackish-brown can be discerned.
The neck area, breast, and belly are predominantly black. The back (mantle) is black with hints of brown. The wing coverts on the folded wings are dark-brown edged with varying amounts of lighter brown. The secondary flight feathers visible on the folded wing are dark with a varying amount of brown edging.
There is a good deal of variation in the plumage of turkey vultures. Adult birds in fresh plumages appear darker than browner and faded old plumages.
The turkey vultures have unfeathered red heads, which is the bird’s most distinctive feature. The head looks small relative to the size of the bird.
There is no sexual dimorphism in turkey vultures, so males and females look the same. Even though females are slightly larger than males, it is impossible to distinguish males from females by physical appearance and plumage.
Despite the turkey vulture being a common and familiar bird, little is known about its plumage and molt cycles.
Turkey vultures are a common sight in the skies across much of North and South America. With their distinctive silhouettes and flying styles, these scavengers are easy to identify once you know what to look for. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to easily recognize these unique birds.
Size and Shape
Turkey vultures are large birds but smaller than eagles or condors. They have wingspans ranging from 5 to 6 feet and their bodies measure around 2 feet long from head to tail. Their wings are long and broad, well-suited for soaring flight.
In silhouette, turkey vultures appear quite gaunt, with a small head and thin neck protruding from a bulky body Their tails are relatively long and rounded at the end Turkey vultures fly with a slight dihedral, meaning their wings are angled slightly upwards rather than horizontal. This gives them a slight “V” shape in flight.
Plumage and Coloration
Adult turkey vultures have predominantly blackish-brown plumage, which can appear black from a distance. The undersides of their wings are paler gray or silver, which creates a two-toned effect in flight. Their wing feathers are darker toward the tips.
The most distinctive feature of turkey vultures is their bare heads, which range from pink to bright red in color. This bare head may be difficult to discern when the birds are soaring high overhead. Turkey vultures lack feathers on their heads as an adaptation to plunge their heads into carcasses while feeding.
Juvenile turkey vultures have grayish heads that darken as they mature. Younger birds may also have some white flecking on the tips of their wing and tail feathers.
Flight Style
The flight style of turkey vultures is very characteristic. They soar with wings slightly raised in a shallow “V” and often teeter from side to side. They rarely flap their wings, relying on air currents and thermals to stay aloft. Turkey vultures are sometimes seen soaring in large groups or “kettles”, circling together at a single thermal.
Turkey vultures are less maneuverable in flight than buteos like red-tailed hawks, but they excel at soaring and gliding In windy areas, turkey vultures hold their wings in a strong dihedral to stabilize themselves. Watch for them rocking unsteadily in heavy winds
Behavior
When perched, turkey vultures often hold their wings spread out. This behavior is believed to dry the wings, warm the body, and bake off bacteria.
Turkey vultures roost communally, sometimes in groups of hundreds. They gather in roosts beginning in late afternoon and may stand facing the sun, spreading their wings, before settling down for the night. In the morning, they spread their wings again to warm up before heading out to forage.
Habitat
Turkey vultures occupy diverse habitats across the Americas, from subtropical forests to shrublands, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands. They frequent open areas interspersed with patches of woods, avoiding dense forest. Turkey vultures require areas with good thermals and updrafts to aid their soaring flight. They often follow roadways or river corridors while foraging.
Range
Turkey vultures breed across the southern Canada, the United States, Mexico, and throughout Central and South America. Northern populations of turkey vultures migrate, while southern populations are year-round residents. During migration, they can be found across much of North America.
Common Confusions
Turkey vultures can be confused with black vultures, which share a similar range and lifestyle but have different proportions and flight styles. Black vultures have shorter wings and tails, giving them a more compact, squared-off silhouette. Black vultures have gray heads and fly with level wings, lacking the dihedral of turkey vultures.
Immature turkey vultures can be mistaken for black vultures, since their heads are grayish rather than red. But immatures still show the two-toned underwing pattern and dihedral flight style of adult turkey vultures.
Zone-tailed hawks are sometimes mistaken for turkey vultures in flight. But zone-tails have banded tails and fly with quicker wingbeats, lacking the vulture’s characteristic teetering flight.
Summary
turkey vulture: 34
vultures: 16
wings: 12
flight: 11
plumage: 5
juvenile: 5
black vulture: 4
silhouette: 3
thermals: 3
roost: 3
soaring: 3
dihedral: 3
carcass: 2
condor: 2
eagles: 1
zone-tailed hawk: 1
buteos: 1
red-tailed hawk: 1
What does a turkey vulture look like in the air?
Size of the turkey vulture
The turkey vulture is a large bird with an approximate length of 25.1 – 32 inches, reaching a 5.6 – 6 feet wingspan. The weight is approximately 4.4 lb on average.
Summary table showing the turkey vulture measurements.
| Length (1) | Weight | Wingspan (2) |
| 25.1 – 32 inches (male and female) | 4.4 lb (male and female) | 5.6 – 6 feet (male and female ) |
(1) Measured from the tip of the tail to the tip of the bill with the neck stretched out. (2) Distance between tips of outstretched wings.
What Do Turkey Vultures Look Like? – Bird Watching Diaries
FAQ
What birds are mistaken for turkey vultures?
Zone-tailed Hawks of the southwestern U.S. are similarly shaped and fly with a similar style, but they have light bands in the tail, and a larger, fully feathered head unlike Turkey Vultures, which have an unbanded tail and a bald head.
Are turkey vultures harmful?
Turkey Vultures are almost entirely carrion eaters, which means they feed on animals that are already dead. They have been documented killing very weak or very sick animals, but this is rare. They are not a threat to livestock or pets.
Are turkey vultures rare to see?
The Turkey Vulture is so named because its red, featherless head resembles that of the Wild Turkey. The species is a common, well-known, and readily recognizable bird that ranges across southern Canada to southernmost South America. Vultures are the most widely distributed of all seven species of New World vultures.
Will a turkey vulture pick up a small dog?
None. Most vulture species, but especially the Turkey vulture, have weak flat feet with long toes and blunted talons, poorly suited for gripping or carrying objects. So Turkey vultures are physically incapable of picking up animals the way eagles and hawks do, much less a 100 lb dog.