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 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 712 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: When is the best time to see Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

January has the highest sighting rate for Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

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 ~50% · Likely

at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

712 Verified sightings at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary From 2019 to 2026

160,998 Verified sightings across all 114 parks From 2019 to 2026

January Best month highest sighting rate

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cathartes burrovianus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Coragyps atratus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Sarcoramphus papa

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Rupornis magnirostris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Leucopternis albicollis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Leptodon cayanensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Spizaetus tyrannus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo brachyurus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Harpagus bidentatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Elanoides forficatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Ictinia plumbea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 712 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

January has the highest sighting rate for Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.

← Back to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Turkey Vulture

About the Turkey Vulture

Recent sightings of Turkey Vulture in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Black Vulture

King Vulture

Roadside Hawk

Gray-lined Hawk

White Hawk

Gray-headed Kite

Black Hawk-Eagle

Short-tailed Hawk

Double-toothed Kite

American Swallow-tailed Kite

Plumbeous Kite

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Quick answers