Critter Science
  • Store
  • Zoology
    • About Me
    • Critter Questions
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • BYET
    • About BYET
    • Ernie on Fine Art America
    • BYET Gallery 1
    • BYET Gallery 2
    • BYET Gallery 3
    • BYET Gallery 4
    • BYET Gallery 5
    • BYET Gallery 6
    • BYET Gallery 7
  • For Teachers
    • Teacher Critter Resources
    • What is a Marsupial?
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • Hibernating vs Brumating
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
      • Frog Metamorphosis
      • Poison Dart Frog
    • What are Species?
    • Animal Word Search
    • Connect the Dots
    • Coloring Pages
  • Contact
    • General Contact
Donate Today
turkey vulture

Beware, the Turkey Vulture Cometh

  • 23 November, 2018
  • Critter Man
  • No Comments
  • 185 Views
  • 1 Likes
Daily Critter Facts

I thought it only fitting to share information on the turkey vulture, as yesterday was Thanksgiving and all. The turkey vulture is also called the turkey buzzard. They actually don’t actively hunt turkeys but rather prefer carrion, like other vultures. This article is on special request. Enjoy!

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Cathartes aura
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Length: 2.1 – 2.7 ft.
Height: 2.5 feet
Wingspan: 66 – 70 inches
Lifespan: 16 years (in the wild) | over 30 years (in captivity)

Now on to the Facts!

1.) The Turkey Vultures live from southern Canada throughout the U.S. and down south through southern South America and even the Caribbean.

2.) A turkey vulture won’t build a nest, instead they prefer to lay their eggs directly on the ground.

3.) The female lays between 1 – 3 eggs and deposits them into burrows, caves, crevices, and even hollow logs.

4.) These fascinating critters eat a wide variety of carrion (dead animals), from small mammals to dead cows. Insects, other invertebrates, and certain fruits are also eaten.

5.) These vultures are almost exclusively scavengers and are rarely seen actually hunting live prey.

But wait, there’s more on the turkey vulture!

6.) Like some other birds, like the shoebill or marabou stork, turkey vultures will defecate on their legs and feet in an effort to keep themselves cool on hot days.

7.) They are able to save energy by gliding. They can also fly very low to the ground in an attempt to pick up the scent of dead animals.

Did you know…?
Turkey vultures, like all vultures, have no feathers on their heads. This helps them stave off bacteria and subsequent infections from the dead they consume.

8.) Turkey Vultures play an important role in the health of our ecosystems. As nature’s clean-up crews, they help eliminate rotting carcasses, which helps control the spread of certain diseases!

Now a Short Turkey Vulture Video!

Learn more about all kinds of cool critters here.

Be sure to comment below!

birdbuzzardCentral Americanorth americaSouth Americaturkey buzzardturkey vulturevulture
Critter Man

With over 45 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

Happy Thanksgiving, but not for the Turkey
Not the Lorax, the Hyrax
Related Posts
  • pygmy hippopotamus
    The Pygmy Hippopotamus 27 January, 2021
  • mimic octopus
    The Amazing Mimic Octopus 26 January, 2021
  • basking shark
    The Big Mouthed Basking Shark 25 January, 2021
  • Store
  • Zoology is My Passion
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Teachers
  • BYET
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.