Turkey Vulture — Photo: Seig · CC BY 4.0

New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

LCLeast Concern

Family: New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Order: Cathartiformes

Overview

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.
Like all New World vultures, it is not closely related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to see it

Destination guides featuring this bird

Veracruz River of Raptors

Mexico Veracruz River of Raptors Millions of hawks and vultures funnel between mountains and sea each autumn.

JJanuary: Poor or no data
FFebruary: Poor or no data
MMarch: Good
AApril: Good
MMay: Poor or no data
JJune: Poor or no data
JJuly: Poor or no data
AAugust: Poor or no data
SSeptember: Best
OOctober: Best
NNovember: Good
DDecember: Poor or no data

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.