The Short Answer
No, there are no truly white Turkey Vultures. Turkey Vultures typically have blackish-brown plumage with a red or orange-red head. Their wings and tail may appear lighter in bright sunlight, but they do not come in an all-white color variant. Any reported white Turkey Vulture sightings are likely cases of mistaken identity or very rare genetic variations causing abnormal plumage. Turkey Vultures are widespread scavenging birds found throughout much of North America.
What Turkey Vultures Normally Look Like
Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) are large, widespread raptors found throughout much of North and South America. They are identifiable by their mostly blackish-brown plumage, bald red or orange-red heads, and distinctive dihedral soaring pattern.
Here are some of the typical features of Turkey Vulture plumage:
- Body plumage is blackish-brown overall, sometimes appearing dark gray-brown in bright sunlight.
- The head is small relative to the body and red or orange-red in color. It is devoid of true feathers, instead having only scattered black bristles.
- The wings are two-toned: the wing coverts are dark browns and blacks like the body, while the flight feathers are silvery-gray below.
- The tail is short and fan-shaped. It is blackish-brown with a pale silvery-gray band at the tip.
- The feet are pinkish-gray and the eyes are brown.
Mature Turkey Vultures generally have very consistent plumage. The head color may intensify and the wings lighten slightly with age, but there is little variation between individuals. Dramatic deviations from the usual blackish-brown and red color scheme are exceptionally rare.
Why There Are No White Turkey Vultures
Several factors explain the absence of truly white-plumaged Turkey Vultures:
Genetic Limitations
Turkey Vultures lack the genetic potential for white coloration. Carotenoid pigments produce their red heads, while melanin creates the blackish-brown tones. They do not possess genetic mutations that can inhibit melanin production and create white plumage, as seen in some other raptor species like Red-tailed Hawks.
Camouflage and Thermoregulation
The blackish plumage provides camouflage when Turkey Vultures are feeding on ground carcasses. The dark colors also aid in thermoregulation, as the melanin absorbs heat from the sun’s radiation. White feathers would stand out against dark backgrounds, reducing camouflage, and lack the solar heat absorption properties.
Species Recognition
The consistent dark plumage with contrasting red head helps Turkey Vultures recognize others of their own species and coordinate flock behaviors like communal roosting and group soaring. Deviations from the norm could disadvantage white-plumaged individuals when interacting with the larger population.
Rare Partial Leucism in Turkey Vultures
While complete albinism is unknown in Turkey Vultures, they do very rarely exhibit partial loss of melanin known as leucism. A small number of sightings of white-looking Turkey Vultures likely represent cases of partial leucism. However, these individuals still show some of the typical blackish-brown plumage:
- Leucistic Turkey Vultures retain standard eye color and some dark feathers, unlike true albinos.
- The leucistic plumage often appears mottled or patchy rather than pure white.
- Only certain feather tracts may display reduced pigmentation.
These traits help distinguish truly leucistic Turkey Vultures from regular light-plumaged individuals. The odd white birds remain very much the exception though, not representative of the broader species.
Misidentifications of White Turkey Vultures
Many reported white Turkey Vulture sightings actually turn out to be cases of mistaken identity. The observers misidentify normal-plumaged birds of other species:
White Birds Soaring Overhead
When viewed from below, Turkey Vultures in flight can appear mostly whitish below due to their pale flight feathers. The dark body and tail are obscured and they take on the appearance of a white raptor from certain angles.
Immature Bald Eagles
Young Bald Eagles have mottled brown and white plumage that could seem similar to a leucistic Turkey Vulture when seen distantly or briefly. But immature Bald Eagles still show a white head and tail, distinguishing them from leucistic Turkey Vultures.
Albino Crows or Gulls
Partially or completely albino individuals occur more frequently among some other bird species like crows and gulls. When seen soaring or at a distance, these albino birds could potentially be misidentified as white Turkey Vultures.
| Species | Normal Plumage | Leucistic Plumage |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey Vulture | Blackish-brown overall with red head. | Patchy white areas on blackish-brown background. Retains some dark feathers. |
| Bald Eagle | Dark brown body, white head and tail. | Unknown. No records of leucistic Bald Eagles. |
| American Crow | All black plumage. | Patchy or extensive white plumage possible. Pink eyes if albino. |
Conclusion
In summary, there are no documented cases of truly all-white plumaged Turkey Vultures. They lack the genetic potential for complete loss of melanin pigmentation. Any white Turkey Vultures reported are likely partial leucistics still showing some dark feathers, or cases of mistaken identity with white-plumaged birds of other species. The near-universal blackish-brown plumage with red head serves important functions for camouflage, thermoregulation, and species recognition in Turkey Vultures. Dramatic deviations from this standard appearance are extremely rare. So while abnormally white-looking Turkey Vultures may be observed on very rare occasions, they do not represent a distinct white color variant within the species. The standard Turkey Vulture appearance predominates across their widespread North and South American ranges.
