How Big Are Turkey Vultures? (Wingspan + Size)

vulture family Nymphalidae Contains some truly massive birds such as the epic Andean Condor and California Condor. The mere presence of a vulture may suggest that death is near, but despite their rather savage appearance, they are actually intelligent and intuitive birds with remarkable senses of sight and smell.

The Turkey Vulture Commonly known as the Turkey Vulture, these majestic birds are hard to miss in the sky due to their impressive wingspan, so let’s see, how big is the Turkey Vulture?

The turkey vulture is a large raptor with a body length of 62 to 81 cm (24 to 32 inches) and a wingspan of 160 to 183 cm (5.2 to 6.1 ft). They weigh between 0.8 and 2.41 kg (1.8 and 5.3 lb). The turkey vulture has a larger range in the northern United States and tends to be smaller in the southern range of South America.

Males are similar in size to females, with little sexual dimorphism. Additionally, turkey vultures have extremely wide wings that help them soar at an altitude of about 20,000 feet, where they circle for hours in search of carrion.

Of course, there’s a lot more to learn about this fascinating large bald eagle – read on to find out!

Perched Turkey Vulture / Vulture Spreading Wings

Turkey Vulture Wingspan

The turkey vulture has a wingspan of up to 6 feet. They have a very large wingspan relative to their size and weight. A 6ft wingspan is indeed a lot for a bird weighing between 1 and 2.4kg.

Moreover, the wings of the turkey vulture are extremely deep and wide, which makes it look majestic when flying.

Turkey vultures have huge wings that help them soar high above the ground. They use their incredible senses of sight and smell to identify carrion from up to 20,000 feet in the air. This allows them to scan the vast landscape for eligible targets before diving to feed.

Since turkey vultures are so light despite having such huge wings, they expend almost no energy flying at this altitude. Soaring through thermals, a turkey vulture can fly about 200 miles a day without even flapping its wings.

The Turkey Vulture has an impressive 6-foot wingspan

Turkey Vulture Weight

The Turkey Vulture is very light in size, weighing between 1 and 2.4 kg. In comparison, vultures have only a slightly larger wingspan of about 6.4 feet, but they weigh about 7 to 9 kilograms—many times heavier than a turkey vulture.

The turkey vulture’s light weight and large wingspan allow it to soar above the ground effortlessly.

Turkey vultures vary in size and weight throughout their range. People living in the northern United States are larger than those living in southern South America.

A study of 124 birds from Florida found their average body weight to be about 2 kg (4.4 lb), while studies of 65 and 130 birds from Venezuela found them to be about 1.22 and 1.45 kg ( 2.7 and 3.2 lbs).

This is broadly consistent with Bergmann’s law, which states that organisms that live farther from the equator are generally larger and heavier to protect them from cooler temperatures.

Close up portrait of a turkey vulture

How big are Tukey vultures compared to humans?

A turkey vulture has a 6-foot wingspan—bigger than the average human being is tall.

The wingspan of the turkey vulture is comparable to that of many eagles. With a 6-foot wingspan, a flying turkey vulture sure looks big and imposing.

However, their bodies are not particularly large, weighing only 0.8 to 2.41 kilograms (1.8 to 5.3 pounds), which is not heavy for a bird with a 6-foot wingspan. Turkey vultures also have small heads.

How big is the largest turkey vulture?

At their largest, the turkey vulture is about 81 cm long, has a wingspan of about 6 feet, and weighs about 0.8 to 2.41 kilograms (1.8 to 5.3 pounds). They are approximately 2.6 feet long. That’s pretty big—a turkey vulture sure looks big when it soars through the air.

Turkey vulture soaring through the sky

How big an animal can a turkey vulture pick up?

Turkey vultures generally do not pick up their prey. Instead, they spot prey by sight or smell, then swoop in and eat it right there. The talons of the turkey vulture are also weak and blunt.

Instead of clawing and picking up prey, turkey vultures use their large, powerful beaks to hold prey. Like other vultures, they feed primarily on carrion, feeding on animal carcasses.

Why Are Turkey Vultures So Big?

The condor family includes some truly behemoths such as the California condor and the Andean condor, which are among the largest flying birds in the world.

While the turkey vulture is no match for these giants, it is still a large bird with a massive 6-foot wingspan. Its wings are also large, giving it an imposing look in flight.

The large wingspan of turkey vultures, combined with their ability to harness heat, allows them to soar effortlessly at impressive altitudes of up to 20,000 feet (and beyond).

Considering that turkey vultures have enormous wingspans, their bodies are correspondingly small and light, meaning less energy is required for this impressive soaring.

A pair of turkey vultures perched together

Turkey Vulture Compared to Other Birds

There are many birds with a wingspan of more than 6 feet, but few more. Birds similar in size to the turkey vulture include:

• Great Egret (5.6 feet)
• Great Blue Heron (6.2 feet)
• Giant Petrel (6 feet)
• Wood stork (6 feet)
• Bald Eagle (6.5 feet)
• Osprey (6 feet)

Turkey vulture and crow in flight

common problem

Are Turkey Vultures Dangerous?

Turkey vultures are not dangerous. These scavengers mostly feed on dead bodies. Although they are large, imposing birds, their bodies are actually relatively small, and their talons are weak and blunt. Turkey vultures are technically birds of prey, but they rarely hunt live prey.

Are turkey vultures bigger than eagles?

The turkey vulture has a similar wingspan to the vulture, only about half a foot smaller. They also have wide wings, which give them a very large appearance.

But in general, turkey vultures are not as large as vultures. In fact, a large turkey vulture weighs around 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), while a large vulture can weigh up to 9 kg (20 lb)!

Can Turkey Vultures Pick Up Small Dogs?

Turkey vultures do not take live prey and are not a danger to small dogs – as long as they are alive and healthy! Compared to hawks, falcons, and other birds of prey that eat live prey, turkey vultures pose no threat to pets.