Each year, the Wildlife Center admits and treats about 50-60 Black and Turkey Vultures. Common causes of admission for these two species include lead toxicosis, gunshot injuries, and collisions with vehicles. While some people may think of vultures as “gross”, they are a vital part of our balanced ecosystem and play an important role as natures “clean-up crew”. Watch our episode of UNTAMED on vultures, and read below to learn more about these charismatic animals.
Have you ever seen a large, dark bird effortlessly soaring high in the sky, wings held in a V-shape? If so, chances are it was a turkey vulture These unique birds have adapted to survive and thrive in their environments But just how long do turkey vultures live? Let’s take a closer look at the turkey vulture lifespan.
An Overview of Turkey Vultures
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are very common in North and South America. Weighing 4-5 pounds with wingspans around 6 feet, turkey vultures are on the larger size for birds Their plumage is overall dark brown or black The name “turkey vulture” comes from their red, featherless head, which resembles the head of a turkey.
Turkey vultures are scavengers meaning they mainly eat decaying carcasses they find while soaring high in the sky. Their excellent sense of smell allows them to detect gasses produced by decay from up to a mile away! At carcasses, turkey vultures gorge themselves on the rotting meat. Their strong immune systems and acidic vomit help them avoid getting sick from bacteria on the carrion.
Now that we know a bit about these unique birds, let’s examine their lifespan in the wild and in captivity.
Turkey Vulture Lifespan in the Wild
Turkey vultures can live quite a long time compared to other bird species. In the wild, the average turkey vulture lifespan is around 16-20 years. However, many live longer.
- The oldest known wild turkey vulture was over 30 years old!
Turkey vultures have relatively slow reproductive rates to match their long lifespans. They reach sexual maturity and begin breeding around 5 years old. Then they raise one clutch of 1-3 eggs per year. The parents share sitting on the eggs and care for the chicks after they hatch.
Their long lifespan and slow breeding make turkey vultures especially vulnerable to threats and declines in their environment. Lower breeding rates make it difficult for populations to quickly rebound.
Turkey Vulture Lifespan in Captivity
In zoos, sanctuaries, and private facilities turkey vultures commonly live even longer than in the wild. The average lifespan in captivity ranges from 25 to 35 years.
- The oldest captive turkey vulture was at least 37 years old!
In captivity, turkey vultures are protected from the elements and dangers found in the wild. They have access to regular, reliable food and medical care. So more individuals reach their maximum lifespan potential.
However, captive lifespans don’t necessarily reflect a species’ biological capabilities. Wild turkey vultures likely have shorter average lifespans due to environmental influences. Their true maximum lifespan is still reflected by exceptional wild individuals living over 30 years.
Why Do Turkey Vultures Live so Long?
Several key turkey vulture traits contribute to their impressively long lifespan:
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Flight adaptations – Turkey vultures have long, broad wings optimized for soaring at altitude for hours. This means they expend relatively little energy flying compared to other bird species.
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Carrion diet – Feeding on carrion provides turkey vultures an abundant, readily available food source. They don’t have to chase down live prey.
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Resilient immune system – Turkey vultures have very high immune tolerance for pathogens from rotting carcasses. This allows them to exploit an abundant food source most other animals can’t.
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Small clutch sizes – Turkey vultures lay only 1-3 eggs per year. This slow reproductive rate is common in longer-lived birds species. Resources aren’t depleted raising many offspring each breeding season.
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Few natural predators – Turkey vultures have few predators as adults due to their large size and soaring habitat. This results in lower mortality once they reach adulthood.
Threats to Turkey Vultures
While turkey vultures are well-adapted with innate longevity, they still face substantial threats – especially from humans:
- Collisions with vehicles and aircraft
- Ingestion of lead ammunition fragments in carcasses
- Habitat loss and degradation
- Illegal shooting and poisoning
Their low reproductive rates make turkey vulture populations slow to recover from such threats. Many populations, especially in Central and South America, are declining. Efforts to reduce lead poisoning risk, protect habitat, and limit direct persecution are important for ensuring turkey vultures continue living long lives.
Turkey Vulture Conservation
Despite facing threats, turkey vultures remain widespread and turkey vulture lifespans are impressively long. You can help support turkey vulture conservation by:
- Using non-lead ammunition when hunting
- Reporting injured or dead turkey vultures to wildlife authorities
- Supporting habitat protection programs
- Spreading awareness and appreciation for these unique long-lived birds
So next time you see a turkey vulture effortlessly soaring overhead, consider that bird could be 10, 20, or even 30+ years old! Their specialized adaptations allow them to survive and thrive decade after decade. With conservation action, future generations can continue admiring these long-lived scavengers gracing the skies.
Black vs. Turkey Vultures
Black Vultures have black plumage, bare black heads, and white patches under their primary feathers. Black Vultures rely on sight to find their food.
In flight, Black Vultures can be identified by their small patches of white feathers at the tips of their wings. Their tails are short and only extend the length of their legs.
Mature Turkey Vultures have dark plumage and featherless red heads; the undersides of the flight feathers are paler. An immature Turkey Vulture’s head is dark gray. Unlike most bird species, Turkey Vultures rely on their sense of smell to find prey.
In flight, Turkey Vultures wings are largely silvery-white on the undersides. Their tails are also generally longer than Black Vultures.
Vultures are scavengers and feed primarily on carrion. They rid the landscape of deteriorating carcasses and help curb the spread of dangerous diseases and bacteria. Their stomachs have strong enzymes that kill off dangerous toxins and microorganisms.
Vultures lack the powerful feet that are characteristic of true raptors like eagles and hawks. They have long toes with blunted talons, which make it easier for vultures to walk on the ground. Turkey Vultures often place one or both feet on their food when eating; Black Vultures typically do not use their feet when feeding.
Vultures have long, hooked bills designed for tearing pieces of food. Vultures lack feathers on their heads so they can more easily keep themselves clean when eating, since they often insert their heads completely inside the carcasses they feed on.
The legs of vultures are usually coated white, due to the dried uric acid of their excrement. Vultures will mute – excrete waste – onto their legs, serving two different purposes:
- In warm weather, muting on their legs is part of their thermoregulation – it helps to cool down their body temperature.
- When vultures step into a carcass, touching possibly contaminated flesh, they risk coming into contact with bacteria. They disinfect themselves with the highly acidic uric acids by muting onto their legs.
- In the early mornings, vultures often will sit with their wings spread wide, increasing the surface area of their bodies so that the sun can more easily warm them. This is called the “horaltic pose”. This posture also helps control ectoparasites like feather lice and flat flies.
- Black Vultures are “family-oriented” birds – they feed their young for up to eight months after their young have fledged and often stay together in family groups.
- Vultures lack a voice box; their vocalizations include rasping hisses and grunts.
- According to All About Birds, “The word vulture likely comes from the Latin vellere, which means to pluck or tear. [The Turkey Vultures] scientific name, Cathartes aura, is far more pleasant. It means either golden purifier or purifying breeze.”
- Vultures can live to be 25 years old.
Vultures were once regarded as largely beneficial and were well-tolerated in human-populated areas. A negative attitude toward these scavengers was developed in the early 1900s when people became concerned that vultures might increase the spread of disease, despite strong evidence to the contrary.
You can help vultures by sharing your appreciation of these misunderstood scavengers with other people. Learn more about lead toxicosis and help us reduce the number of vultures (and eagles!) we see suffering from the effects of lead toxicity.
How Long Do Turkey Vultures Live? – Bird Watching Diaries
FAQ
Do turkey vultures mate for life?
Turkey vultures gather on the ground and begin hopping around in a circle with wings partially spread in order to attract mates. Males and females often mate for life or at least for many years, and often stay together throughout the year. Turkey vultures breed from March to June in North America.
Where do turkey vultures go at night?
Outside of the breeding season, Turkey Vultures often roost together with Black Vultures at communal roosts, sometimes by the hundreds.
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.
What is the average lifespan of a turkey vulture?
Its life expectancy in the wild ranges upward of 16 years, with a captive life span of over 45 years being possible. The turkey vulture is awkward on the ground with an ungainly, hopping walk. It requires a great deal of effort to take flight, flapping its wings while pushing off the ground and hopping with its feet.
Can turkey vultures be held in captivity?
The turkey vulture can be held in captivity, though the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prevents this in the case of uninjured animals or animals capable of returning to the wild. In captivity, it can be fed fresh meat, and younger birds will gorge themselves if given the opportunity.
How long do turkey vultures live?
The most reliable estimate is around 10 to 16 years. The oldest banded wild Turkey vulture was 17 years old, but they can live astonishingly long lives in captivity. The oldest living Turkey vulture turned 48 in 2022. On average, Turkey vultures likely live longer than 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Are turkey vultures still alive?
The oldest known Turkey vulture is still alive today. Lord Richard, who lives at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, CA, hatched in June 1974. This makes the bird a remarkable 48 years old as of 2022.
Are turkey vultures Big?
Turkey vultures are part of the vulture family Cathartidae, which contains some of the world’s largest birds in the form of the Californian and Andean condors. Turkey vultures are pretty large themselves and have long, broad wings that help them soar at high altitudes.
Where do turkey vultures live?
One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.
How long do turkey vultures stay together?
After approximately 70-80 days, the fledglings transition into their juvenile stage. The juveniles become independent a week later, though the family unit stays together until fall. As per the IUCN, the turkey vulture is classified as “Least Concern” or “LC”. They are under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the States.