Turkey Vulture

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 9,802 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: When is the best time to see Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

Cathartes aura

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 ~20% · Possible

at Saguaro National Park

9,802 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026

192,320 Verified sightings across all 136 parks From 2019 to 2026

September 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 Saguaro National Park

Coragyps atratus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Buteo jamaicensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Parabuteo unicinctus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Accipiter striatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo lineatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Elanus leucurus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Pandion haliaetus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo albonotatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo swainsoni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 9,802 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Turkey Vulture in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Saguaro National Park

Turkey Vulture

About the Turkey Vulture

Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park

Black Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Harris' Hawk

Hen Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

White-tailed Kite

Osprey

Gray-lined Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Quick answers