Summary

  • Natural history: Turkey Vultures locate carrion almost entirely by smell rather than sight, and because they nest in hidden, unbuilt sites like cliff crevices, hollow logs, and abandoned buildings, confirmed breeding is rarely documented. Only two of Vermont’s 270-plus records were confirmed in the Second Atlas, the lowest confirmation rate of any regularly breeding species in the state.
  • Status in VT: Increased by 158% (52 to 134 blocks). Greatest increase in Northeastern Highlands and Northern Vermont Piedmont.
  • Data from other research: No additional data for VT.
  • Conservation status: State rank S3S4B
  • Other atlases: NY: 71%; PA: 12%; MD: -6%; ON: probability of observation doubled province-wide.
  • VT’s role in North American range: VT is within the northeastern corner of the range.
  • Causes of change since first Atlas: Banning of DDT (?); global warming (?); increase in number of road kills (?).
  • Management/Monitoring recommendations:Protect potential nest sites from disturbance during early summer.

Population Trends

Turkey Vulture graph

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Species Account

Turkey Vulture Map 1Turkey Vulture Table 1Turkey Vulture Table 2

Change in Distribution

mapkeyTurkey Vulture Map 2Turkey Vulture Table 3

Links

Vermont eBird

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds