General Information

Turkey vultures are often referred to by the misnomer “buzzards.” Buzzards are what Europeans called hawks, and when early Europeans began to settle in the U.S., they thought the large birds they saw flying were hawks. They called them “buzzards,” and the misnomer stuck.

Many turkey vultures live in Ohio during the winter, but most migrate as far south as South America. Turkey vultures can be found in almost any habitat. They are frequently seen in groups soaring high above the trees, with their wings outstretched in a “V” shape.

Buzzard Day is a tradition celebrated each year in Hinckley, Ohio. According to legend, there was a great hunt in Hinckley in the early 1800s. Hunters left behind many butchered carcasses and unwanted game, attracting hundreds of turkey vultures to the area. Legend has it that every spring, hundreds of turkey vultures come back to Hinckley looking for that same feast they enjoyed many years ago.

Meet Our Turkey Vultures

Two turkey vultures, Gandalf and Vinnie, reside in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden (presented by KeyBank) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Life Span

Wild: 8-12 years
Captivity: 25-30 years

Fun Facts

• Although turkey vultures like to eat carrion, they won’t eat anything that has been dead and rotting for too long. They prefer carcasses that are less than 24 hours old.
• Turkey vultures, as with all birds, have no sweat glands. One way that they maintain cool body temperatures is by urinating down their legs when they are hot. When the urine evaporates, it cools them down; much like perspiration does for humans.
• The feet of a turkey vulture are more like chicken feet than the powerful feet of a hawk or owl. They do have very sharp beaks that help them to rip open prey and defend themselves. Another mechanism of defense they use is vomiting. A turkey vulture will vomit when approached by a predator; the stench of regurgitated carrion often times is enough to scare away a predator.
• Turkey vultures eat mainly mammals but will also eat reptiles, amphibians and other birds.