Black Vulture vs. Turkey Vulture: Seeing vs. Smelling Differences

By: Nico Avelle  | 
Turkey vulture
One way to easily distinguish a turkey vulture from a black vulture is the former's red head. mallardg500 / Getty Images

When it comes to scavengers of the sky, black vulture vs. turkey vulture identification is easy to misconstrue. These two species often share the same habitats, feast on the same carrion, and roost in the same trees. But they couldn’t be more different in how they fly, feed, and find their meals.

Let’s break down a comparison of these vulture species.

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Appearance: Heads, Tails, and Feathers

Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are known for their red heads and longer tails. Their plumage is mostly brown, with lighter underside feathers visible during flight.

Black vultures (Coragyps atratu), by contrast, have dark gray heads, shorter tails, and mostly black feathers with distinct white patches near the wing tips.

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If this were one of the animal kingdom’s unintentional beauty contests, the turkey vulture might take the lead with its striking coloration and larger wingspan.

Flight Styles

Turkey vultures are the kings of soaring. They ride thermal air currents with minimal wing flapping, conserving energy as they glide over forested areas and open skies. This gives them an edge in spotting dead animals or roadkill from above.

Black vulture
Black vulture.
WilliamSherman / Getty Images

Black vultures, on the other hand, flap more and are less graceful in the air. However, they often follow turkey vultures to food sources, using their social skills to stay fed.

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Food and Foraging: Smell vs. Sight

Turkey vultures rely on their keen sense of smell to locate carcasses, making them one of the few birds in the animal kingdom with this ability. Black vultures use their eyes and tend to find food by following their red-headed cousins.

Black vultures
Black vultures.
Mark Newman / Getty Images

Both eat flesh, fish, eggs, and other remains. But when they clash over a meal, black vultures — often in large groups — can dominate thanks to their aggression.

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Range and Habitat

Turkey vultures live across most of North and South America, from southern Canada to Seabrook Island (in the U.S. state of Georgia) and down into Tierra del Fuego in South America. They’re adaptable, nesting on the ground or secluded spaces.

Black vultures also span wide territory but are more common in the southeastern U.S. and Latin America. In places like Southern Illinois, you might spot juvenile turkey vultures and black vultures sharing a perch.

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Though they share the sky, the two birds have distinct roles in the New World ecosystem. The turkey vulture is a solitary scout with a powerful nose. The black vulture is a social forager with attitude.

Together, they clean up the environment, recycling waste and keeping disease in check — proof that even the less glamorous creatures have an essential role to play.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

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