Knowing what the turkey vulture eats is one of the most intriguing things about this bird. The fact that they eat dead animals is no secret, but few know when and where they look for carcasses, as well as the kind of carrion they prefer to eat. Read on if learning about the turkey vulture’s diet interests you. Table of Contents
The turkey vulture feeds nearly exclusively on carrion. They feed on carcasses of all types of animals and sizes ranging from washed-up minnows, and mice, to cows, and even the carcasses of washed-up whales. The turkey vulture’s remarkable sense of smell allows it to find even a shrew on the forest floor of a dense-canopied forest. Turkey vultures are opportunists feeding on what’s available to them in the landscape and through the annual cycle.
Turkey vultures, also known as turkey buzzards, are a common sight in many parts of North America. With their large wingspans and distinctive red heads, these scavengers are adept at soaring through the skies in search of their next meal. But do turkey vultures actually attack and eat live animals? Or do they strictly feed on carrion and dead remains?
The Scavenger Lifestyle
Turkey vultures are obligate scavengers meaning they survive almost entirely by scavenging dead carcasses rather than hunting live prey. In fact, over 90% of the turkey vulture’s diet comes from scavenging. They rarely attack healthy, mobile animals themselves.
Turkey vultures have evolved impressive adaptations for a life of scavenging:
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A keen sense of smell allows them to detect gasses emitted by decaying remains from great distances
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Specialized beaks and weak talons are ideal for tearing at carrion but not killing or carrying prey.
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Lightweight, mostly bald heads prevent bacteria from dead remains getting into their system.
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Their immune systems have evolved to withstand potentially infectious carrion.
Why Turkey Vultures Rarely Attack Live Animals
Several factors explain why turkey vultures do not regularly attack live, healthy animals:
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Lack of weapons: Turkey vultures’ beaks and talons are ill-suited for subduing mobile live prey compared to true predatory raptors like eagles or hawks. They could not easily grasp, kill, and carry an active animal.
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Energy expenditure: It takes considerable energy and effort to hunt and kill agile, live prey versus scavenging stationary carcasses. Turkey vultures opt for the easiest meal.
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Avoid injury: Scavenging eliminates the risks associated with hunting dangerous prey that could fight back and injure the vulture. It’s safer sticking to dead remains.
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Abundance of carrion: With ample naturally deceased animals available to scavenge, turkey vultures have no need to hunt scarce live prey.
Exceptions: Turkey Vultures Will Attack Vulnerable Animals
Though they strongly prefer carrion, there are a few instances where turkey vultures have been documented attacking living creatures:
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Newborn livestock: Baby calves, lambs, or other newborns in their first hours of life if unattended by their mother.
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Small pets: Cats, small dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. may be at risk if left unattended outside.
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Turtles: Turkey vultures flip small turtles over and peck into the exposed underside.
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Injured/sick animals: Debilitated creatures with limited mobility are more vulnerable.
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Small wild animals: Rodents, snakes, lizards, bats, baby birds in the nest.
These attacks are opportunistic. Turkey vultures eat vulnerable prey only if readily available requiring minimal effort. But they do not actively hunt down healthy adults.
Scavenging Behaviors
Though they do not usually kill prey themselves, turkey vultures perform a great service in the ecosystem by scavenging carrion. Their carrion feeding includes:
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Soaring high on thermals scanning for dead animals.
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Using highly sensitive olfactory nerves to detect gasses from decaying remains.
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Ripping into carcasses with sharp beaks and feeding on decomposition.
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Regurgitating stomach acid to kill bacteria on food before eating.
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Competing with other scavengers like eagles, coyotes, and bears for access to carcasses.
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Circling in groups called kettles to locate carrion sources.
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Covering great distances to find sporadic carrion sources.
Turkey vultures are impressive scavengers that fill an important niche in the ecosystem. While they are not likely to attack most healthy animals, it is best to keep vulnerable pets and newborns protected from potential harm. These unique birds help keep the landscape clean by consuming dead remains that could otherwise spread bacteria and disease. So next time you see a turkey vulture overhead, appreciate their clean-up services rather than worrying about any threat. They are friends, not foes, for both farmers and nature lovers alike.
Where do turkey vultures feed?
Turkey vultures feed in any habitat type, always on the ground. They do this because most carcasses are found on the ground. When the carcass is found in shallow water, turkey vultures have been observed wading to reach it.
Unlike hawks and falcons, turkey vultures cannot take even the smallest carcass from the ground to a branch. Their feet are too weak to carry anything.
Turkey vultures can carry small items in their beaks, such as mice or snakes. Though they eat carcasses where they are found, they have been observed dragging rats, squirrels, or similar-sized animals for short distances with their bills.
Turkey vultures have been observed standing on floating carcasses of large animals such as pigs, cows, and alligators.
How much does a turkey vulture eat every day?
Little is known about the amount of food a turkey vulture eats daily. Turkey vultures in captivity ate approximately 5 to 7 oz of meat per day. However, they can go without eating for up to 17 days.
Because carrion is unpredictable in time and space, scavengers have developed the ability to gorge themselves when food is available. They can also store food in their expandable crops so that they do not need to feed every day.
The king vulture and Andean condor can also go several days and weeks without eating.
Turkey vultures in captive conditions were deprived of food and did not show any weight loss in the first eight days. By day 11, the turkey vultures began to lose weight, and by day 17, the birds started to show signs of starvation.
In conclusion, turkey vultures may go without food for about 10 days without problems.
Do Turkey Vultures Eat Live Animals? – Bird Watching Diaries
FAQ
Do turkey buzzards eat live things?
Turkey vultures (often called turkey buzzards) primarily feed on carrion, meaning they mostly eat dead animals. They are not known to actively hunt or attack live animals, including feral or stray cats.
Can a turkey buzzard pick up a cat?
As for carrying off a cat, I doubt it. Unlike hawks, vultures are poorly equipped to pick up prey and fly with it. Possibly it was a hawk that made the talon holes in the cat. Turkey vultures (buzzards) by contrast are gentle and shy.
Will turkey vultures attack dogs?
Do vultures attack people or pets? No. Vultures have evolved to eat dead animals and have no reason to attack a live human or pet. However, if cornered or handled, they may bite or vomit.
Why are turkey vultures hanging around my house?
When a vulture lands on your house, it is mostly because they sense food in your house and are trying to locate it. Other times, it is because they are trying to increase their body temperature in the morning and your house has a thermal spot to help achieve this purpose.
What do turkey vultures eat?
Turkey vultures are scavengers, meaning they predominantly eat carrion – the carcasses of dead animals. Their diet consists mainly of these carcasses and they rarely hunt or kill live prey themselves. Some key facts about the turkey vulture’s diet and hunting behaviors: Feed mostly on the carcasses of dead mammals and birds.
Do turkey vultures eat pets?
They probably wouldn’t even eat a dead dog or cat that’s on the road. If Turkey Vultures Don’t Eat Pets, What Do They Eat? I also found it very interesting that North American turkey vultures have a very keen sense of smell, while African and Asian vultures cannot smell anything.
Do turkey vultures eat grass?
Some identify the turkey vulture as the ultimate consumer or decomposer as they consume all other consumers below its trophic level and can even consume primary producers (plant-based food). In the turkey vulture food web, grass represents the primary producer.
Do turkey vultures eat mercaptan?
Turkey vultures will notice other vultures circling and flock to the area. If a large, dead animal has been spotted, they may wait until there are enough birds to dispose of the carcass in a timely manner before descending (yuck!). They are attracted to the scent of mercaptan, the gas produced by the beginnings of decay.
Do turkey vultures eat carrion?
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), also known as turkey buzzards, or just buzzards, get a bad wrap because of their wrinkly, bald faces and proclivity toward eating carrion. These birds are not exactly elegant like raptors or brilliantly colored like songbirds. But vultures are still fascinating. Plus, they play a vital role in the environment.
How much do turkey vultures eat a day?
Turkey vultures are opportunistic feeders, meaning they eat as they find food. These birds can consume up to twenty pounds of meat per day. They typically spend daylight hours languidly soaring the skies, scavenging for their next meal. What do baby turkey vultures eat?