Turkey vultures are large, dark birds found throughout North and South America. Despite their name, they are not closely related to turkeys and do not taste like them. Turkey vultures are scavengers that feed mainly on carrion, or dead and decaying animals. This diet give their meat an unpleasant taste and odor, making turkey vultures generally inedible for humans.
Turkey Vulture Biology
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are so named because their bald, red heads resemble the head of a male wild turkey. However, they belong to the family Cathartidae while turkeys are in the family Phasianidae. Turkey vultures range in length from 25-32 inches, with wingspans of up to 6 feet. Their dark feather coloration helps camouflage them as they circle carcasses. Turkey vultures have excellent senses of smell, which they use to locate dead animals to eat.
Like other vultures, turkey vultures have weak feet and legs relative to their body size. They cannot kill prey themselves and rely on scavenging for food. Their beaks are slightly hooked but not very sharp or long, adapted for tearing rotting meat off carcasses. Turkey vultures have very low pH stomach acid, which protects them from getting sick when eating rancid meat.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Turkey vultures feed almost exclusively on carrion. Using their keen sense of smell, they locate dead animals including deer, raccoons, squirrels, cattle, and even dead fish along shorelines. They prefer fresh carcasses but will eat decaying meat if little else is available. Turkey vultures typically forage by soaring low over open areas watching for carcasses. They also follow packs of coyotes, wolves, and other predators in order to steal carcasses from them.
Turkey vultures regurgitate when threatened as a defense mechanism. Their vomit has a foul smell and may deter predators grabbing them. Because of their diet of dead and rotting meat, turkey vulture vomit and feces also smell extremely bad.
Taste and Effects of Eating Turkey Vultures
Most wild carnivores and scavengers avoid eating turkey vultures due to their rancid taste. Their meat is dark and tough, their odor is bad, and their habit of projectile vomiting makes them additionally unappealing as prey. Turkey vultures that are accidentally cooked sometimes cause food poisoning, likely due to bacteria in their GI tracts from consuming rotten meat.
There are a few accounts of people eating turkey vulture meat. Most describe the meat as being tough, greasy, and having a nausea-inducing smell even after cooking. The taste is often described as nauseating. One food blogger roasted a turkey vulture and described the cooked meat as smelling like “rotten intestines with a hint of ammonia.” The blogger sampled the meat but was unable to swallow it due to the horrible taste.
Overall, it seems that turkey vultures are an unsuitable food source. Their carrion diet and protective vomiting give their meat an overwhelmingly bad flavor for humans plus a high risk of harboring bacteria and making those who eat it sick. The taste has been described as the worst of any meat. Turkey vulture meat is tough and odorous even after cooking. Therefore, it is best to seek other more palatable sources of meat.
Nutritional Value
Since turkey vultures are generally considered inedible, there is little research into the nutritional value of their meat. Being carnivorous birds, their muscle meat is dark with myoglobin and made up of proteins and fats like other meats. However, the nutritional quality is likely reduced by the bacteria and toxins from rotting carcasses that accumulate in the birds’ bodies.
Nutrient | Amount per 3 ounces |
---|---|
Calories | 110 (estimated) |
Fat | 5 g (estimated) |
Protein | 18 g (estimated) |
As scavengers, turkey vultures perform an important job in the ecosystem by disposing of carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases. However, they do not provide a viable food source for humans. Game birds or domestic poultry should be eaten for healthy and tasty meals instead.
Preparing and Cooking Turkey Vulture Meat
Turkey vultures are not commonly eaten, but some brave or desperate souls have attempted to prepare and cook them. Some methods include:
Removing the skin and feathers
The bird must be plucked since the feathers are not edible. The skin should also be removed because it has a strong odor.
Marinating
Soaking the meat in vinegar, lemon juice, or another acidic liquid might help draw out some of the rancid taste and kill bacteria.
Slow cooking
Slow cooking methods like stewing or braising the meat for several hours in liquid can help tenderize the tough, sinewy meat.
Heavy seasoning
Liberal use of spices, herbs, and other seasonings may mask some unpleasant flavors.
However, most accounts suggest that the meat remains unpalatable and foul-tasting despite efforts to make it appetizing. Cooking and preparing turkey vulture meat does not seem to make it significantly more enjoyable to eat.
Risks of Eating Turkey Vultures
There are several health risks associated with eating turkey vultures:
Bacterial infections
Turkey vultures consume diseased, rotten carcasses daily. This exposes them to dangerous bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter that can cause serious food poisoning in people.
Parasites
Parasitic worms and other organisms found in rotten meat may accumulate in turkey vultures and be transmitted to humans who eat them.
Accumulation of toxins
Scavengers can build up high levels of lead, pesticides, and environmental toxins in their tissues which pose a health hazard.
Prion disease
Prions, the infectious agents that cause “mad cow disease,” can potentially be contracted from eating the meat of scavengers that consume brains or spinal cords from infected carcasses.
Overall, turkey vultures are best avoided as food due to risks from bacteria, parasites, toxins, and prions. Scavengers do not make for safe or healthy meals.
Legality of Harvesting Turkey Vultures
In the United States, turkey vultures are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law makes it illegal to hunt, kill, possess, or eat turkey vultures without proper permits. The fine for violating the MBTA is up to $15,000 and 6 months jail time. Turkey vultures can only be killed legally with a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which are almost never issued. It is also illegal to keep any parts of a turkey vulture including feathers.
In Canada, turkey vultures are protected in certain provinces under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Killing or possessing turkey vultures is illegal with penalties up to $1 million and 3 years in prison. In Mexico, turkey vultures are listed as a “threatened” species and given full protection from hunting and harassment.
Overall, eating turkey vultures is not recommended for the foul taste, health risks, and legal prohibitions. Turkey vultures are best appreciated for their valuable ecological niche as scavengers, not as a food source.
Conclusion
Turkey vultures have an important role as scavengers but do not provide viable meat for human consumption. The flavor of turkey vulture meat is widely regarded as disgusting. Their scavenger diet gives the meat a rancid, nauseating taste even after cooking. Turkey vultures harbor high levels of bacteria and toxins that can cause foodborne illness. Harvesting or eating turkey vulture is also illegal in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. While the turkey vulture’s adaptation to a diet of carrion is fascinating, it is not a palatable or advisable food for people.