What does the Turkey Vulture eat?
Cathartes aura
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Diet overview
Carnivore (obligate scavenger)
How it forages
Strictly a scavenger, feeding almost exclusively on carrion. It locates food primarily by its highly developed sense of smell, detecting the odor of ethyl mercaptan, a gas produced by decaying flesh. It also uses sight, observing other vultures descending or watching for roadkill. It does not typically kill prey, though it may occasionally feed on very young, sick, or injured animals.
When it feeds
Diurnal, active during daylight hours.
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