Silhouette: Jan Sevcik (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic

Turkey Vulture

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

Very likely. About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Paracas National Reserve on a given day, based on 861 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 84 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

May, July and November. In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve on a given day, against about 60% in January and March, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Turkey Vulture?

Between noon and 3 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Turkey Vulture sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Paracas National Reserve the best place to see a Turkey Vulture?

12th of 132. Of the 132 parks where we can rate Turkey Vulture sightings, Paracas National Reserve ranks 12th at about 70%. The best odds are in Los Haitises National Park (Dominican Republic, about 90%), Everglades National Park (United States, about 80%) and Bahía de Loreto National Park (Mexico, about 80%). All parks ranked.

Q: Where does the Turkey Vulture sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Turkey Vulture is recorded against all the birds logged in Paracas National Reserve (861 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Cathartes aura

Silhouette: Jan Sevcik (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyCathartidae (New World Vultures)
GenusCathartes (Turkey and Yellow-headed Vultures)
SpeciesCathartes aura (Turkey Vulture)

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

at Paracas National Reserve

In 3 days >90%

861 Verified sightings at Paracas National Reserve From 2019 to 2026

175,943 In all 132 parks

May Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Turkey Vulture

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.

Like all New World vultures, it is not closely related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, the two groups strongly resemble each other due to convergent evolution. The turkey vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its food using its keen eyes and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the early stages of decay in dead animals. In flight, it uses thermals to move through the air, flapping its wings infrequently. It roosts in large community groups. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. Each year it generally raises two chicks, which it feeds by regurgitation. It has very few natural predators. In the United States, the vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Wikipedia →

Sounds

Furnarius rufus0:13

Argentina · 2022

Recording0:19

United States · 2026

Recording0:12

United States · 2018

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 101 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~90%
2	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~80%
3	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~80%
4	Península Valdés	🇦🇷 Argentina	~80%
5	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~80%
6	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~80%
7	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~80%
8	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~70%
9	Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park	🇯🇲 Jamaica	~70%
10	Falkland Islands	🇫🇰 Falkland Islands	~70%
11	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
12	Paracas National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~70%
13	Pan de Azúcar National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	~70%
14	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~70%
15	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~70%
16	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
17	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
18	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~70%
19	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~60%
20	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
21	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~60%
22	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
23	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~60%
24	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~60%
25	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~60%
26	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~60%
27	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
28	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~60%
29	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
30	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~60%
31	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
32	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
33	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
34	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
35	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
36	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
37	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
38	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
39	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
40	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
41	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~50%
42	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~50%
43	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
44	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
45	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~50%
46	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
47	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~50%
48	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
49	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
50	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
51	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
52	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
53	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~50%
54	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
55	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~50%
56	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~40%
57	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
58	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~40%
59	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
60	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~40%
61	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
62	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
63	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
64	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
65	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
66	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
67	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	~40%
68	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
69	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
70	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
71	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
72	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~40%
73	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
74	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
75	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~30%
76	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
77	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
78	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
79	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~30%
80	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
81	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
82	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
83	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
84	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~30%
85	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~30%
86	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~30%
87	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~30%
88	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
89	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~30%
90	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
91	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
92	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~30%
93	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
94	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~20%
95	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
96	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
97	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
98	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
99	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
100	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
101	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
102	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~20%
103	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~20%
104	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
105	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	~20%
106	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
107	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~20%
108	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
109	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
110	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
111	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
112	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
113	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
114	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
115	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
116	Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	~10%
117	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
118	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
119	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
120	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
121	Nahuel Huapi National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
122	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
123	Tierra del Fuego National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
124	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
125	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
126	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
127	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
128	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
129	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
130	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
131	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
132	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Havana	🇨🇺 Cuba	~80%
2	Barranquilla	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
3	Arequipa	🇵🇪 Peru	~50%
4	Sacramento	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
5	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
6	Guayaquil	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~50%
7	Maracaibo	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~50%
8	Tegucigalpa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
9	Monterrey	🇲🇽 México	~40%
10	San Pedro Sula	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	ZooParc de Beauval	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
2	Abilene Zoological Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Ecomuseum Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
4	Le rocher des aigles	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
5	Wildlife Prairie Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
6	Wildlife Prairie Park East Side	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Toronto Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
8	Living Desert Zoo and Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	World Bird Sanctuary	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Bronx Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
12	Higashiyama Zoo Main Park	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
13	Higashiyama Zoo North Park	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
14	Badoca Safari Park	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
15	Squam Lakes Natural Science Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Brookfield Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
17	Safari Madrid	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
18	Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
19	Parque y Zoológico Nacional Arquitecto Manuel Valverde Podestá	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	In captivity
20	Wildlife West Nature Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
21	Phoenix Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
22	The Maryland Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
23	Burgers' Ocean	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
24	Royal Burgers' Zoo	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
25	Night Safari	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
26	ZooMontana	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
27	Singapore Zoo	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
28	Almaty Zoo	🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	In captivity
29	Bioparque Municipal Vesty Pakos	🇧🇴 Bolivia	In captivity
30	Maine Wildlife Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
31	South Lakes Safari Zoo	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
32	Emirates Park Zoo	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	In captivity
33	Philadelphia Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
34	Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
35	Havana Zoo	🇨🇺 Cuba	In captivity
36	Hogle Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
37	Bird Paradise	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
38	Rainforest Wild Asia	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
39	Western North Carolina Nature Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
40	John Ball Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
41	Thompson Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
42	Pueblo Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
43	Reserva Zoológica Oasys MiniHollywood	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
44	Lake Superior Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
45	Potawatomi Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
46	The Abilene Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
47	Sunset Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
48	Oasi Naturalistica di Sant'Alessio	🇮🇹 Italy	In captivity
49	Santa Barbara Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
50	Happy Hollow Park & Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Paracas National Reserve

Coragyps atratus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Pandion haliaetus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Larus belcheri

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Sula variegata

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Pelecanus thagus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Haematopus palliatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Larosterna inca

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Larus dominicanus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Arenaria interpres

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Leucophaeus modestus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

Very likely

About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Paracas National Reserve on a given day, based on 861 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 84 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

May, July and November

In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve on a given day, against about 60% in January and March, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Turkey Vulture?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Turkey Vulture sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Paracas National Reserve the best place to see a Turkey Vulture?

12th of 132

Of the 132 parks where we can rate Turkey Vulture sightings, Paracas National Reserve ranks 12th at about 70%. The best odds are in Los Haitises National Park (Dominican Republic, about 90%), Everglades National Park (United States, about 80%) and Bahía de Loreto National Park (Mexico, about 80%). All parks ranked.

Where does the Turkey Vulture sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Turkey Vulture is recorded against all the birds logged in Paracas National Reserve (861 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Paracas National Reserve

Turkey Vulture

About the Turkey Vulture

Sounds

Recent sightings of Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Paracas National Reserve

Black Vulture

Osprey

Bigua cormorant

Belcher's Gull

Peruvian Booby

Peruvian Pelican

American Oystercatcher

Inca Tern

Dominican Gull

Grey-hooded Gull

Ruddy Turnstone

Grey Gull

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

When is the best time to see a Turkey Vulture in Paracas National Reserve?

What time of day is best to see a Turkey Vulture?

Is Paracas National Reserve the best place to see a Turkey Vulture?

Where does the Turkey Vulture sighting chance come from?