Discover the Fascinating World of Turkey Vultures: Top 12 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Nose that Knows No Bounds

Nature's clean-up crew, equipped with a nose that knows no bounds, turkey vultures are ready to chow down on an all-you-can-eat carcass buffet: These resourceful scavengers rely on their exceptional sense of smell, capable of locating dead animals from over a mile away and preferring to feast on carrion that's only 12-24 hours old – although they aren't opposed to snacking on older meat if it's available.
Source => chattnaturecenter.org

2. Red Bull of the Sky

Who needs Red Bull when you can have turkey vulture wings? These fascinating feathery giants truly give the meaning to "winging it": Boasting an impressive wingspan of 6 feet, turkey vultures hold the crown for the largest wings in North America, allowing them to effortlessly soar for hours on end by simply riding thermal currents.
Source => chattnaturecenter.org

Did you know that America's favorite feathered couple, the Bald Eagles, perform a breathtaking airshow dance called the Eagle Tango during mating season? They lock talons, flip, and spin before separating at the last second! Discover more about this incredible lovebird extravaganza!

=> Fun Facts about Eagles

3. Sniff-o-Matic Carrion Tracking

When the stakes are high and dinner is dead serious: Turkey vultures have a top-notch sniff-o-matic system that helps them track down hidden carcasses with ease, soaring low to the ground to catch a whiff of that tantalizing dead animal scent, making them the ultimate scavenger connoisseurs.
Source => naturemappingfoundation.org

4. Gut Bacteria and Acid Superpowers

Who needs Tums when you're a turkey vulture? These feathered feasters have gut bacteria working double shifts and stomach acid that could dismantle a crime scene: Turkey vultures possess two types of bacteria in their intestines that help neutralize harmful microbes found in their carrion-based meals, and their stomach acid is powerful enough to kill most bacteria as well.
Source => cbc.ca

5. Projectile Vomiting Defenses

Next time someone tells you to "throw up your defenses," don't just laugh it off: Turkey vultures have the ultimate gag reflex. Cue the explosive projectile vomiting: When threatened or nervous, these birds quickly empty the contents of their stomachs, releasing a stomach-churning smell from their carrion-filled diet that sends predators running for the hills.
Source => hitchcockcenter.org

6. Roadkill Stew-fflé Ecosystem Saviors

What's a turkey vulture's favorite after-dinner mint? A roadkill stew-fflé, served au naturale! These beaky, bald-headed, scavenging connoisseurs hold a surprising key to a healthy ecosystem: by feasting on carcasses, they prevent the spread of disease and remove toxins, ultimately benefiting all wildlife and even us humans. So next time you spot a turkey vulture snacking on a delicious bite, remember their vital role in maintaining that delicate balance.
Source => education.nationalgeographic.org

7. Love-Life of Decomposition Aficionados

Glide into the love life of a well-seasoned lovebird with a keen taste for decomposition: Turkey vultures, the power-couples of the sky, mate for life and make carrion their gourmet delight. These sociable avian partners can often be seen gliding gracefully on thermal currents while acting as Californian sanitary superheroes, feasting on the remains of the deceased and halting the spread of disease by annihilating bacteria and viruses within their digestive system.
Source => baynature.org

8. Sunbathing Goths with UV-Resistant Microbiota

Turkey vultures, nature's sunbathing goths, take tanning to a whole new level: their diverse plumage microbiota is dominated by UV-resistant bacteria and archaea, thanks to their extensive exposure to solar radiation during scavenging and spread-wing sunning activities.
Source => animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com

9. High-Flying Janitors of the Sky

Turkey vultures: known for keeping the skies clean, just not at penthouse altitudes! Their lofty lifestyle consists of hanging out nearer to Earth's basement, soaring closer to the ground: These high-flying janitors use thermal updrafts, aka Mother Nature's elevators, to effortlessly glide through the sky, masterfully sweeping up nature's leftovers in style.
Source => chattnaturecenter.org

10. Daredevils with a Gut of Steel

As fearless as a daredevil, with an appetite for roadkill and a gut of steel: Turkey vultures are home to a diverse microbiome that resists infections, including gut bacteria that can cause diseases like tetanus, gangrene, and botulism in humans. Plus, they even groom themselves with radiation-resistant bacteria, making them nature's own sanitation department, cleaning up our messes and keeping our waterways clean.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

11. Intestinal Fortitude Mascots

Ever heard of "intestinal fortitude"? Turkey vultures should be their mascots! These fearless feathered janitors have a gut full of good, bad, and ugly bacteria: they can digest rotting carcasses without getting sick, thanks to their diverse microbiome of thousands of bacterial species, including the notorious Fusobacteria and Clostridia. Sadly, vultures in Asia haven't been laughing at the effects of drug-treated cattle on their populations, proving their importance as nature's sanitation squad.
Source => bbc.com

12. Eco-Friendly Frequent Fliers on Thermal Expressway

Turkey vultures, nature's eco-friendly frequent fliers, have upgraded their in-flight experience by hitching a ride on power plant thermals: These savvy scavengers harness the rising currents of warm air from thermal power plants to soar effortlessly – an 80% success rate in the central Amazon – making the sky a clever vulture expressway, just beware of aviation rush hour!
Source => science.org