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How Do Vultures Find Their Food?

Vultures are large, flighted birds that feed mainly on carcasses and carrion. They prefer recently dead animals. These birds tend to have naked or sparsely feathered heads and necks, as they typically plunge their heads deep into bloody carcasses to feed. Sparse feathering prevents clotted blood and pieces of flesh from coating and soiling their feathers. Vultures make use of warm thermals to soar above the ground, while they source their next meal. These fascinating birds use a number of methods to locate the carcasses or carrion from which they feed.

Relying on Smell
- Unlike the majority of other bird species, turkey vultures possess a sense of smell. The American turkey vulture has an acute sense of smell and is able to locate a carcass from up to a mile away. The turkey vulture can can also easily detect the direction from which the smell originates. Vultures are able to detect the chemical compounds that are associated with rotting flesh and circle slowly downward until they pinpoint the source.
Relying on Sight
- Although turkey vultures locate their meals mainly by smell, these vultures have very keen eyesight as well and are easily able to detect a carcass from the sky. Unlike black and king vultures, which soar at considerable heights, the turkey vulture circles closer to the ground to be able to see dead animals. Turkey vultures will feed on the dung of both domestic animals and coyotes. Black vultures, another vulture species, will also prey on nestling birds, living insects and reptiles, which they spot from the air.
Relying on Other Vulture Species
- Black vultures sometimes rely on turkey vultures to lead them to a meal. This species of vulture typically flies higher than the turkey vultures and observes the turkey vultures, as they soar closer to the ground. As soon as the turkey vultures have located a carcass and started a descent toward it, the black vultures immediately follow. Black vultures are more aggressive than the slightly larger turkey vultures; they often hunt in groups while turkey vultures are more likely to search for food along. A group of black vultures can drive a turkey vulture for the carcass. Black vultures will follow one of their roost mates, who leaves the communal sleeping site in the early morning to return to a carcass that it had discovered and was feeding from, the previous day. The South American king vulture will also make use of turkey vultures to lead it to a meal.
Relying on Mammal Species
- African vultures, such as lappet-faced and black-backed vultures will observe lions and other predators making a kill. These vultures then arrive at the carcass and, depending on the predator species involved, either wait their turn to feed or attempt to chase the hunter from its kill. Vultures are cautious around feedings lions, but will try to steal a carcass from a small predator, such as a jackal.

Animals & Science