Vultures are large birds of prey that feed primarily on carrion. There are 23 species of vultures worldwide, but only 2 species are found in North America. These two vulture species are the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and the black vulture (Coragyps atratus).
Turkey Vulture
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread vulture species in North America. Some key facts about the turkey vulture include:
- It is found throughout most of North America from southern Canada down to South America.
- It has a distinctive red, unfeathered head which allows it to feed inside carcasses more easily.
- Turkey vultures have excellent senses of smell, allowing them to detect gasses produced by decay from up to a mile away.
- They soar on broad wings held in a shallow V-shape, sometimes teetering or rocking unsteadily in flight.
- Turkey vultures eat mainly carrion, finding carcasses by smell. They rarely attack live prey.
- They play an important role as nature’s cleanup crews, disposing of carcasses that could otherwise spread disease.
Turkey vultures range in length from 25-32 inches, with wingspans of up to 6 feet. They have dark brown plumage with paler undersides. Their heads are small relative to their bodies compared to other vultures.
Turkey Vulture Habitat
Turkey vultures occupy a wide variety of habitats across their range, including grasslands, shrublands, pastures, deserts, forests and more. They avoid areas where the vegetation is too dense, as it makes locating carcasses more difficult. Turkey vultures nest on cliff ledges, in caves, hollow trees, and abandoned buildings.
Turkey Vulture Diet
As scavengers, turkey vultures eat mainly carrion. Their diet consists mostly of dead mammals and birds. They find carcasses by smell and by spotting other vultures circling overhead. At carcasses, turkey vultures gorge themselves and often thrust their heads inside body cavities to feed. They have very strong stomach acid that allows them to digest even rotting meat contaminated with bacteria. Turkey vultures rarely kill or consume live prey themselves.
Turkey Vulture Reproduction
Turkey vultures generally mate for life. They breed starting in March through May. Turkey vultures do not build nests. The female lays 1-3 eggs on bare ground in a secluded spot such as a cave, crevice, or hollow log. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 5 weeks. The young fledge at around 75 days old and rely on the parents for food for another month. Turkey vultures reach sexual maturity at about 2-3 years old.
Black Vulture
The black vulture (Coragyps atratus) is the second vulture species found in North America. Some key facts about black vultures include:
- Black vultures are found across the southeastern United States south to South America.
- They have black plumage, a featherless black head, and whitish bill.
- Black vultures find carcasses mainly by sight, soaring high in the sky.
- They are very social and often feed, roost, and fly in large flocks or groups.
- Black vultures gorge at carcasses and may hunt weak, sick, or injured animals.
- They regurgitate foul-smelling vomit as a defense mechanism.
Black vultures are slightly smaller than turkey vultures, at 24-28 inches long with wingspans around 5 feet. Their heads are smaller in proportion to their bodies compared to turkey vultures.
Black Vulture Habitat
Black vultures occupy open country and forest edges across the southeastern United States. They avoid dense forest interiors. Black vultures nest in hollow trees, stumps, caves, burrows, abandoned buildings and other sites. They prefer to nest and roost communally near urban areas to take advantage of garbage and roadkill.
Black Vulture Diet
Like turkey vultures, black vultures eat mostly carrion. They find food by sight rather than smell. At carcasses, they gorge themselves and show aggression toward other black vultures. Unlike turkey vultures, they may sometimes prey on small animals such as rodents, snakes, turtles and eggs. They also feed more readily on live prey that is too weak to escape, like newborn livestock.
Black Vulture Reproduction
Black vultures may form breeding pairs for life. They nest from March to May, laying 1-3 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for 33-41 days. Chicks fledge at 2-3 months old but continue to be fed by the parents for up to 6 months. Black vultures reach sexual maturity and begin breeding at around 4 years old.
Comparison of Turkey and Black Vultures
Though they occupy overlapping ranges and fill similar ecological roles, turkey vultures and black vultures have some key differences:
| Trait | Turkey Vulture | Black Vulture |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Throughout most of North America | Southeastern United States |
| Plumage Color | Brown | Black |
| Head | Red, featherless | Black, featherless |
| Beak | White | White |
| Size | 25-32 in. long, 5-6 ft. wingspan | 24-28 in. long, 5 ft. wingspan |
| Flight Style | Soars with wings in V-shape | Soars with flat wings |
| Finds Food By | Smell | Sight |
| Eats | Mainly carrion | Carrion and weak or dead animals |
| Social Behavior | Solitary | Gregarious, forms flocks |
In areas where they co-exist, black vultures tend to rely more on live prey and turkey vultures rely more on finding carcasses by smell. The two species sometimes feed together at carcasses, but they usually direct aggression toward each other.
Importance of Vultures
Both turkey vultures and black vultures provide valuable ecosystem services as scavengers. By disposing of decaying carcasses, they help control disease spread and prevent contamination of water sources with decomposing remains. Vultures have very strong stomach acid that allows them to safely digest rotting carcasses infected with deadly pathogens like anthrax, botulism and rabies.
As the only two vulture species in North America, turkey and black vultures help fill an important ecological role, especially in removing carrion from areas with larger carnivores like coyotes or feral dogs. Vultures are perfectly adapted to this scavenging lifestyle, allowing them to provide a very unique service.
Threats and Conservation
The biggest threat facing North American vulture populations is poisoning, either intentional or accidental. Vultures can be intentionally poisoned by livestock owners wrongly perceiving them as a threat. They also suffer from feeding on carcasses tainted with pesticides like diclofenac or lead ammunition. Collisions with vehicles and aircraft are another hazard.
However, turkey and black vulture populations remain widespread and their future appears relatively secure. Their status is considered Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Careful monitoring and protection from poisoning risks are important conservation measures to maintain healthy vulture populations.
Conclusion
In summary, the two vulture species found in North America are the turkey vulture and the black vulture. Though they are both carrion-feeding scavengers, they differ in appearance, range, behavior, and foraging habits. The turkey vulture relies on smell to find food across most of North America. The black vulture uses sight and is found in the southeastern U.S. Both species provide key ecosystem services by disposing of decaying remains. Maintaining healthy vulture populations through appropriate conservation measures will ensure these unique birds keep fulfilling their critical ecological roles across North America.
