Arizona Wildlife Spotlight: The Unsung Turkey Vulture Cleanup Team

Turkey Vultures have quite the bad rap. In old Westerns, circling vultures are used as a trope to signal impending doom. I’m here to correct the record on these much-maligned birds.

I know, I know, some believe Turkey Vultures look a little creepy, but when I see those big, dark wings circling in the skies over Arizona, I think of them as Nature’s Sanitation Crew. They help keep our environment healthy by cleaning up carrion before it spreads disease. That’s a pretty amazing job if you ask me.

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A large black bird sitting on top of a tree branch

Arizona’s Year-Round Cleanup Crew

Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), according to Wikipedia, are common and so important that Bisbee holds an annual “Return of the Turkey Vulture” festival to welcome them back from their annual southern migration. While many of these carrion birds migrate to warmer climes, many hang out in Arizona year-round.

READ MORE: Do You See It?! The Return of Bisbee's Turkey Vultures!

a couple of birds flying through a blue sky

How to Spot a Turkey Vulture

If you see a vulture on the road cleaning up an expired rabbit or other type of carrion, they’re pretty easy to identify, but what about those “circling buzzards”?

You can spot them soaring and swirling high above the land in their signature V‑shaped glide, riding thermals with almost no wingbeats. You can see their two‑toned wings—dark above, lighter gray below—which makes them easy to identify.

A bird soars gracefully through the sky

Vultures are some of the few birds with a strong sense of smell, which helps them locate freshly dead animals. Those creepy-looking bald red heads aren’t just for looks. Their aesthetic helps keep them clean while feeding. And thanks to powerful immune systems, vultures can safely consume carcasses that might carry pathogens that would kill other species, nasty things like botulism and anthrax.

READ: Celebrating the Return of the Turkey Vultures in Bisbee

a group of birds perched on a tree branch

Behavior, Nesting, and Daily Life

Turkey Vultures roost on poles, dead trees, and cliffs, and they often gather in large groups outside breeding season.

You don’t have to worry about them carrying off your Chihuahua or outdoor cat; they rarely attack living prey. Instead, they focus on carrion, already dead things, and that reduces the spread of disease in our local ecosystems. Nesting sites are tucked away in caves, ledges, or abandoned buildings, where they can stay cool and far from humans who might disturb them.

Two turkey vultures perched on a mossy tree branch

Why Arizona’s Vultures Deserve Respect

At the end of the day, Arizona’s Turkey Vultures are just plain cool. They’re graceful in the air, essential to our desert ecosystems, and surprisingly gentle birds just doing important work. I respect them for keeping our environment cleaner, healthier, and a little more balanced.