Turkey Vulture

LC - Least Concern

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

not listed

The head is bare and red. The wings are all black.

26″ to 32″in length

66″ to 72″ wingspan

Silent

Flies over open country, shorelines, roads; rarely forests.

April to May and September to November

Carion

Uncommon to common migrant and breeder

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Turkey Vulture's....

Location: Maple Grove, MN

I think it was a vulture, the head was red, larger than a crow and smaller than a turkey. It was more interested in the road kill than me approaching in the car. I stopped and it did fly away.

If the head is red, then it is a Turkey Vulture, not a Black Vulture.

Bill Reynolds
4/16/2022

Location: Pennington County

Two Turkey Vulture slow soaring above my place in NW Pennington county on a northly course.

Location: 120th St. W. Rosemount, MN

Eating a small dead animal on the side of the road. The bird took flight when my car approached and perched in nearby tree on the Lebanon Hills Park side of the road.

Location: Entrance to Northbound Hwy 52 at 80th st. Inver Grove Hts. Mn.

Feeding on small carcass roadside

Location: Victoria, Eastern Carver County, south shore Lake Minnetonka

nesting pair

Location: rural Norman Co. MN

Location: Upper Landing Park, St. Paul

Saw a turkey vulture flying over the Mississippi River near downtown St Paul, then watched it swoop down and land on the riverbank, just out of view.  I’m guessing it was after a dead fish.  It flew off before I got closer to take a photo.

Location: rural Norman Co. MN

Location: Just south of the Ford Dam in St. Paul

I was about 20 feet away and watched this vulture for a couple minutes before it flew away. I have seen them flying along the river now and again, but this is the first time I’ve seen one on the ground here.

Location: Minnehaha Park

I saw about 8 flying, and wondered if young are going on familial test flights, or if there’s something yummy in the woods.

Location: west side of Otter Tail Lake on Co Hiway 145 in Otter Tail County

I stopped at the Corner Store and saw about 40-50 turkey vultures traveling toward me from the north. It was very windy, and many simply soared above me in no apparent hurry. I was able to video some of it on my mobile phone. 

Location: Osseo, Minnesota

I was outside at about 8:30 AM and something huge caught my eye circling slowly overhead, just above the tree tops. It was a turkey vulture! It flew slowly and gracefully, looking at the ground the entire time. I feared it was looking for my chipmunk, Chippie, but thankfully saw Chippie later in the day, safe and sound.

Location: Pipestone

Pipestone has a around a dozen birds that hang around the railroad tracks at the south side of town. We’ve seen them around here for at least the last ten years.

Location: Mankato, West

Returned to roosting trees today at about 5:15 pm. Carney and Moreland!

Location: St. Cloud, MN 56301

Feeding on unidentified carrion along with several crows in small parking lot on corner of 8th Street and 18th Ave South

Location: Oakdale

One spotted very low in the afternoon in the swamp areas near Walton park.

Location: Faribault MN

Eleven very large birds riding thermals this afternoon over Willow St. in Faribault near the river.

Location: NW corner Carney Ave. and Moreland Street

This evening the vultures returned to their roosting tree. The first 8 roosted this evening. They began to land around 7:30 PM.

As of now, there are 34 vultures. They are split between two trees. 

Location: Duluth, MN

It landed on a birch tree in my yard and spread its wings. When it did, my dog barked and scared it away.

Location: Glendorado, MN

Location: morristown mn

Location: 7 miles north of Underwood

Pair sitting on our barn with wings spread.

Location: Rockford, Mn

Flock of about 20 vultures flying over the town at dusk.

Location: Eagan

Seen in the city in a wooded area

Location: West Mankato near intersection of Carney Ave. and Moreland Street

A large number (at least 40) nest in the trees near our home. Fly out in the morning and return between 5:30 and 6:30 pm. They are here Spring into Fall. The general pattern is to fly east in the morning and return evenings.

Turkey vultures riding the wind, April 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaWmyS1wXrc&nohtml5=False