Turkey Vulture
Turkey VultureTurkey VultureTurkey VultureTurkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Braulio Carrillo National Park
1,974 Verified records at Braulio Carrillo National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park, based on 1,974 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Braulio Carrillo National Park

Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

40–50% · Likely
King Vulture
LC

King Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sarcoramphus papa

10–20% · With luck
Gray-lined Hawk
LC

Gray-lined Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo nitidus

5–10% · With luck
Broad-winged Hawk
LC

Broad-winged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo platypterus

5–10% · With luck
Roadside Hawk
LC

Roadside Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rupornis magnirostris

5–10% · With luck
White Hawk
LC

White Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucopternis albicollis

5–10% · Rare
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

5–10% · Rare
Black-collared Hawk
LC

Black-collared Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Busarellus nigricollis

Insufficient data
Short-tailed Hawk
LC

Short-tailed Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo brachyurus

<5% · Rare
Snail Kite
LC

Snail Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Insufficient data
American Swallow-tailed Kite
LC

American Swallow-tailed Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanoides forficatus

<5% · Rare
Semiplumbeous Hawk
LC

Semiplumbeous Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucopternis semiplumbeus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
20–30
Jun
30–40
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
40–50
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

Quick answers

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

About 36% of wildlife watchers report a Turkey Vulture sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park, based on 1,974 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

January has the highest sighting rate for Turkey Vulture in Braulio Carrillo National Park in our monthly data.

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