Turkey vultures are a common sight in the skies of North America These large, majestic birds are known for effortlessly soaring at great heights using thermals and updrafts to gain altitude. But just how high do turkey vultures fly? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the flight capabilities of these intriguing scavengers
A Unique Soaring Style
With their dark plumage and distinctive silhouettes, turkey vultures are unmistakable in flight. They hold their wings in a slight V-shape which gives them aerodynamic stability and lift at low altitudes. This allows them to efficiently scan the ground for carrion using their keen sense of smell.
Once turkey vultures locate food, they circle higher using rising thermals and updrafts to gain elevation. Their broad 6-foot wingspans allow them to gracefully ride air currents with minimal effort. In fact, flapping only accounts for around 1% of their flight time. This soaring strategy enables turkey vultures to remain aloft for hours, expending little energy as they traverse great distances.
Record-Breaking Heights
While turkey vultures generally fly below 1,000 feet, their soaring skills allow them to reach astounding heights when the conditions are right. Here are some of their most impressive recorded flight elevations:
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11,300 feet – The maximum height achieved by a Rüppell’s vulture, a close relative of the turkey vulture. This altitude was recorded during a bird strike incident in 1973.
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10,000 feet – Turkey vultures have been observed flying over the Himalayan mountains at this elevation, presumably using mountain updrafts to clear high passes
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6,500 feet – The maximum height recorded for turkey vultures in flight This altitude occurs mainly during migration when they catch rising thermals.
So while they usually fly low, turkey vultures are capable of climbing to heights over a mile above the ground! Their ability to ride thermals and updrafts allows them to reach elevations comparable to eagles, ospreys and other birds of prey.
Why Fly So High?
For turkey vultures, the ability to fly high serves several important purposes:
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Finding food – By climbing on thermals, turkey vultures can scan a larger area below to spot potential carrion. Their exceptional eyesight helps them identify food sources.
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Saving energy – Soaring at elevation allows turkey vultures to travel while expending minimal energy. This helps them migrate long distances or forage widely without fatiguing.
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Avoiding predators – At higher altitudes, turkey vultures are safe from terrestrial predators like foxes, coyotes, and feral dogs. Their overhead perch gives them the advantage.
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Navigating obstacles – Using mountain updrafts helps turkey vultures clear high peaks and ridgelines during migration or daily foraging flights.
Built for Efficient Soaring
Turkey vultures have several adaptations that allow them to reach great heights:
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Keen eyesight – Their visual acuity is 2-3 times better than humans, helping them spot food and thermals from higher up.
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Large wings – With 6-foot wingspans, turkey vultures have broad surfaces to catch rising air currents and stay aloft.
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Lightweight – Weighing only 4-5 pounds, turkey vultures require minimal energy to fly compared to heavier birds.
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Narrow wings – The turkey vulture’s wings are longer at the tips, optimal for slow soaring flight and maneuverability.
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Keen sense of smell – This allows turkey vultures to pinpoint carrion sources while circling high above.
Impressive High-Fliers
While they lack flashy colors, turkey vultures are incredibly graceful fliers. Their ability to soar to heights over a mile up using little effort is a testament to their aerial prowess. Next time you spot their characteristic silhouette overhead, take a moment to appreciate just how high these unique scavengers can fly!
15 Interesting Facts About Turkey Vultures
>> The turkey vulture is related to the stork, not to any birds of prey.
>> Their scientific name in Latin means “cleansing breeze.”
>> Like all other vultures, the turkey vulture has a bald head. This is so that bits of carrion (dead meat) do not adhere to the skin as they would to feathers. At close range the naked red heads of the adult turkey vultures resemble those of turkeys, hence the name.
>> Turkey vultures are the only scavenger birds that can’t kill their prey.
>> A close inspection of their feet reminds one of a chicken instead of a hawk or an eagle. Their feet are useless for ripping into prey, but the vultures have powerful beaks that can tear through even the toughest cow hide.
>> They feed by thrusting their heads into the body cavities of rotting animals.
>> Turkey vultures have an extraordinary sense of smell. They have been known to be able to smell carrion from over a mile away, which is very unique in the bird world. The turkey vulture has the largest olfactory (smelling) system of all birds.
>> Vultures prefer meat as fresh as possible and won’t eat extremely rotted carcasses. They can smell carrion only 12-24 hours old.
>> In the early morning hours you may see turkey vultures sunbathing in a tree with their wings spread out. This is done to increase their body temperature after the cool night.
>> When you see turkey vultures swarming around in a cluster in the early morning hours of early spring or fall, they are preparing to continue on their migration. Vultures seen in the evening hours have probably arrived in the area that day and are preparing to roost for the night.
>> Researchers have determined that turkey vultures can travel at up to 200 miles in a day.
>> Turkey vultures average 2 1/2 feet tall with a 6 foot wingspan. In spite of their large size, they only weigh about 3 pounds.
>> People will often mistakenly call turkey vultures, buzzards, which is the British name for certain hawks.
>> Turkey vultures have been known to live up to 24 years. The average age is estimated to be around 20 years.
>> Vultures help clean up the environment by eating the flesh off dead animals before it rots and causes disease.
Wingspan 6 feet; length, 27 inches. Brownish/black body, the featherless head is black in immature birds, red in adults. Wings are held in a V when soaring, unlike eagles which hold their wings straight out. Birds rock or appear unsteady in flight.
Southern Canada through South America. Migrates to the southern U.S. in the winter.
Open country, roosts in large congregations in secluded woods.
Usually on the ground under cover, sometimes in caves. Lays 2 eggs.
Turkey vultures feed on carrion, which they locate by smell or possibly vision. They are often seen feeding in groups on large items but will eat almost anything.
Considered common in its range, this bird is afforded no special conservation status.
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How High Do Turkey Vultures Fly? – Bird Watching Diaries
FAQ
Why do turkey vultures fly so high?
Wide View for Food: Flying at high altitudes allows vultures to cover vast areas while searching for food. Their keen eyesight enables them to spot carcasses from great distances, which is crucial for their scavenging lifestyle.
How high will a vulture fly?
Flight of the vultures
Rather, they ride heated air currents called thermals to get around and spread their wings to coast. If you see several of them circling in the sky, they might just be riding a thermal to get higher for a long flight. Turkey vultures can fly as high as 40,000 feet in the air.
What is the highest flight of a turkey vulture?
A Stanford University essay states that vultures sometimes rise over 10,000 feet in order to scan larger areas for food (and to watch the behavior of distant vultures for clues to the location of a feast). The essay also says, “Most birds fly below 500 feet except during migration.
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.
Do turkey vultures fly at high altitudes?
Most vulture species rely heavily on soaring and gliding through the air at very high altitudes (up to 37,000 feet), says Katzner, and they rely heavily on sharp vision to see the carcasses of dead animals from such a height. But Turkey Vultures have adapted to fly at lower altitudes to sniff the best pieces of carrion.
How do turkey vultures fly?
These birds fly using a type of soaring called “contorted soaring.” Through this technique, Turkey Vultures ride the upward wind generated when air currents collide with treetops. This allows them to stay closer to the ground compared to other carrion eaters, like Black Vultures in North America, giving them an advantage.
How do you see a turkey vulture?
The most common time to see a Turkey Vulture is while driving, so look along the sides of highways and in the sky over open countryside. When hiking or traveling in hilly or mountainous areas, keep your eyes peeled for vultures. Sudden changes in topography allow for updrafts that the birds use to carry them into the sky.
How big do turkey vultures get?
Turkey vultures are very large birds. They average from 24 to 28 inches in length with an impressive wingspan of between 5 to 6 feet. They can weigh as much as five pounds but generally average about four pounds.
How are turkey vultures different from other vulture species?
Turkey Vultures are different from other vultures throughout the world. Most vulture species rely heavily on soaring and gliding through the air at very high altitudes (up to 37,000 feet), says Katzner, and they rely heavily on sharp vision to see the carcasses of dead animals from such a height.
Are turkey vultures in your backyard?
However, they are not likely to be in your backyard unless something has died or else you have a very large backyard. The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds.