Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are large, dark-plumaged birds with a distinctive featherless red head. These birds are a common sight across the Americas, from southern Canada to the tip of South America, often observed soaring high in the sky. They are known for holding their wings in a shallow V-shape and often teetering from side to side as they ride air currents.
Primary Feeding Strategy
Turkey vultures primarily scavenge, feeding almost exclusively on carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals). Their diet includes a wide range of animals, from small mammals like mice to larger ones such as deer and cattle. They generally prefer recently deceased carcasses, though they will consume older, more decayed remains if necessary.
This feeding habit gives turkey vultures an important ecological role as nature’s clean-up crew. By consuming dead animals, they help prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria. Their digestive systems are robust, capable of sterilizing harmful pathogens found in carrion. This makes their scavenging activity beneficial for ecosystem health.
Locating Their Next Meal
Turkey vultures have a highly developed sense of smell, unusual among birds, allowing them to detect decaying flesh. This sense of smell enables them to locate carrion from great distances, even when hidden beneath a forest canopy. Specifically, they can detect the scent of mercaptan, an organic chemical released during the early stages of decomposition.
Once a scent is detected, the vultures often circle, following the odor plume as it becomes stronger, eventually pinpointing the source. While their sense of smell is primary for finding hidden food, turkey vultures also use their keen eyesight. They use their vision to spot carcasses in open areas or to observe other scavengers, such as black vultures, descending to a food source. This combination of an acute sense of smell and sharp vision makes them efficient at finding their next meal.
Rare Instances of Taking Live Prey
While their diet consists primarily of carrion, turkey vultures are opportunistic feeders. On rare occasions, they may prey on live animals that are vulnerable. This can include very young, sick, injured, or defenseless creatures, such as newborn birds, small mammals unable to escape, or stranded fish.
This behavior is not active hunting, where an animal pursues and kills healthy prey. Instead, it involves taking advantage of targets that present little to no resistance. These instances make up a very small portion of their overall diet, and their weak talons are not suited for subduing strong, live prey.