Vultures are a common sight across New York State, actively fulfilling their role as nature’s cleanup crew. These large raptors are specialized scavengers, feeding almost exclusively on carrion (dead animals). This provides a vital ecological service by removing decaying matter and helping prevent the spread of diseases. Vultures rely on both keen eyesight and an exceptional sense of smell to locate their food.
The Vulture Species Found in New York
New York is home to two distinct species of vulture: the widespread Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) and the increasingly common Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). The Turkey Vulture is present across the entire state, often seen soaring over open fields, farmland, and forested areas during the warmer months. They are highly successful near human populations, frequently feeding on roadkill.
The Black Vulture is a more recent arrival, historically being a southern species. Its range is expanding northward, with established populations primarily in the lower Hudson Valley and the Southern Tier. This movement is influenced by factors like a warming climate and increased food availability from a growing deer population and higher traffic volumes.
Identifying the Differences Between Species
The most reliable way to distinguish between the two species is by observing their appearance, especially their heads, and their flight style. A mature Turkey Vulture has a small, featherless red head, giving it a resemblance to a wild turkey. The Black Vulture, in contrast, has a featherless head that is dark gray or black.
In flight, their silhouettes and behaviors are markedly different. The Turkey Vulture holds its long wings in a shallow ‘V’ shape (a dihedral), causing it to appear wobbly or teetering as it catches thermal updrafts. The Black Vulture holds its wings nearly flat while soaring and flaps its wings more frequently and rapidly.
Looking at the underside of the wings provides a clear distinction. The Turkey Vulture has a two-toned wing, featuring silvery-gray flight feathers that contrast sharply with the darker black of the rest of the wing. The Black Vulture’s wings are uniformly black, but they feature distinct white patches only at the tips of the primary feathers, often described as white “stars.”
Vulture Ecology: Diet, Habitat, and Range
Vultures perform a necessary function by consuming carrion, facilitated by their highly acidic stomach contents that neutralize harmful bacteria. Turkey Vultures possess an acute sense of smell, allowing them to detect the gases produced by decaying flesh from miles away. Black Vultures lack this strong sense of smell and instead rely on their excellent eyesight, often following the lower-soaring Turkey Vultures to a food source.
Turkey Vultures are generally migratory, arriving in New York in the spring and departing for warmer southern regions in the fall. A small number may overwinter in the mildest coastal areas. They typically roost in large groups in tall, secluded trees or on structures like cell towers and water tanks. They prefer to nest in dark, sheltered areas like rock crevices, hollow logs, or abandoned buildings, and they do not construct elaborate nests.
Black Vultures are increasingly becoming year-round residents in the southern parts of the state due to their recent range expansion. These birds are known to be more social at feeding sites than Turkey Vultures and may aggressively displace them from a carcass.