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Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Bird · family Cathartidae · order Cathartiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
49 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
23 years[4]

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a bird in the family Cathartidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Turkey Vulture a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. In the United States it is ranked N5B and N5N, Secure for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but it is on the federal list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[1][8]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Turkey Vulture lives

NatureServe lists the Turkey Vulture as native in 49 US states and territories, including California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Washington[3]. NatureServe also gives each state its own conservation rank, and these ranks differ from state to state[10]. This is where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see one there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: native, state rank S3BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4BNHWashington: native, state rank S4BWAIdaho: native, state rank S5BIDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S4NDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S4BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4B,S5MMAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5BNVWyoming: native, state rank S4BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S4B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S2B,S2NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3BUTColorado: native, state rank S4BCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNMOKentucky: native, state rank S4BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank S5B,S5NMDDelaware: native, state rank S5BDEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5BTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S4BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS5BSecure (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5BSecure (breeding)
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KentuckyS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MarylandS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS4B,S5MApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (migrant)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MissouriSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS5BSecure (breeding)
New HampshireS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaS4Apparently Secure
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS5BSecure (breeding)
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VermontS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WyomingS4BApparently Secure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for the Turkey Vulture, from forests and woodlands to savanna, grassland, desert, cliffs, cropland and tidal flats[11]. It uses both forested and open places, and is found more often in open ones, from lowlands up to mountains[12]. At night it may roost in trees, often near or over water[12]. Nests can be in caves, on cliffs, in hollow logs or stumps, or on the ground in thick shrubs[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Turkey Vulture is a carnivore, and EltonTraits estimates its diet is 100% carrion, which means animals that are already dead[13][14]. NatureServe adds that fresh meat is preferred, that it sometimes takes ripe or rotten fruit, and that it can go over two weeks without food[15]. Adults are about 69 cm (27 in) long and weigh about 3 lb[16][17]. A clutch is usually 2 eggs, and both parents incubate them for 5 to 6 weeks[18]. The oldest known wild bird in US and Canadian banding records was at least 23 years 4 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 69 cm (27 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 1.5 kg (3 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 20.8 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 23 years 4 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 2
Gestation or incubation[21] 39 days
Female maturity[22] 4,015 days (about 11.0 years)
Food habits[13] Carnivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[14]

  • 100% carrion

When to look for it

The Turkey Vulture is diurnal, which means it is active in the daytime[24]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, local migrant or long-distance migrant, depending on the population[23]. In the northernmost breeding areas it generally arrives in March and April and leaves between September and November[25]. On GBIF, most US records fall in March, April and May, but records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 839,300 recordsJanFebruary: 902,624 recordsFebMarch: 1,368,450 recordsMarApril: 1,984,900 recordsAprMay: 1,919,173 recordsMayJune: 1,028,422 recordsJunJuly: 825,883 recordsJulAugust: 889,122 recordsAugSeptember: 1,110,994 recordsSepOctober: 1,019,618 recordsOctNovember: 721,875 recordsNovDecember: 689,886 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January839,300
February902,624
March1,368,450
April1,984,900
May1,919,173
June1,028,422
July825,883
August889,122
September1,110,994
October1,019,618
November721,875
December689,886

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Turkey Vulture as present in 237 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 213 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio[28]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Turkey Vulture endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure)[2][1].
Where does the Turkey Vulture live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 49 US states and territories, from Maine to California[3]. It uses forests, open country, deserts and cliffs[11].
What does the Turkey Vulture eat?
It eats mainly carrion, which is dead animals, and EltonTraits estimates 100% of its diet is carrion[15][14].
How big is a Turkey Vulture?
NatureServe records a typical length of 69 cm (27 in) and a typical weight of 3 lb[16][17].
How long does a Turkey Vulture live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 23 years 4 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Turkey Vulture is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Turkey Vulture: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Turkey Vulture as native in 49 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Turkey Vulture from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 23 years 4 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a bird in the family Cathartidae, order Cathartiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Turkey Vulture is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Turkey Vulture (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Turkey Vulture: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Desert, Bare rock/talus/scree, Cliff,... NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Turkey Vulture. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% carrion. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Turkey Vulture. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 69 cm (27 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 1.5 kg (3 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Turkey Vulture. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20.8 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 2. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 39 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 4,015 days (about 11.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Turkey Vulture: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Turkey Vulture. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Turkey Vulture in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Turkey Vulture as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  28. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Turkey Vulture: California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.