The United States is only home to three vulture species, but are there vultures in Texas? Yes, there are two vultures which live in Texas! This is a far cry from the vulture diversity of places such as India or Africa. No matter, the vultures in Texas make up for in number what they lack in diversity, as these birds are common throughout the state.
Alright, so how can the different types of vultures in Texas be separated? Moreover, where can Texas vultures be observed in the state? Well, I will be discussing all of these questions and more in this comprehensive article about the vultures in Texas. Read on to learn all about Texas vultures.
Table of Contents
Types of Vultures In Texas
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Identification
Black Vultures are aptly named, being entirely black Texas birds with featherless heads. They are slightly smaller than a Turkey Vulture, but this Texas vulture species is still larger than other familiar birds of prey such as Red-tailed Hawks.
In flight, look for their distinctive pale patches on their wingtips. A flying Black Vulture appears to have a small head and tail. Moreover, they do not hold their wings in a dihedral that is as prominent as that of a Turkey Vulture.
Habitat and Range
Although Black Vultures spend much of their days flying around open areas to look for carrion, they breed in woodlands that offer plenty of cover. Black Vultures in Texas may occasionally be found in abandoned buildings, but such locations must be quiet and free of disturbances.
Flocks of vultures roost together overnight. The roost sites for Black Vultures are typically large, dead trees that are adjacent to water. Birds will begin to take flight in the morning when drafts of wind begin to blow through the area.
Black Vultures are present in about two-thirds of the state of Texas, but they’re absent from the panhandle and much of western Texas. They are rarely observed northwest of Abilene, as the arid weather in this part of the state is not accommodating for these birds of prey in Texas. However, a Texas Black Vulture has some tolerance for arid conditions, as a decent number are observed around Big Bend National Park annually.
Abundance
Much like Black Vulture populations in the rest of the world, these scavenger birds in Texas are flourishing. Overall, there have been more than 600,000 eBird checklists from this state that have contained sightings of these raptors.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Identification
Turkey Vultures are large vultures with dark brown feathers, pale legs and bills, and red heads. Like many vultures, Turkey Vultures lack feathers on their heads to make the process of eating carrion less messy. Juvenile Turkey Vultures have gray-colored heads before developing a red head.
These Texas vultures have two-toned wings in flight much like Golden Eagles in Texas. However, the flight feathers and tail of Turkey Vultures are gray, while the upper parts of the wings are black. Turkey Vultures hold their wings in a strong dihedral when they fly. They rarely flap, instead, these scavenger birds in Texas effortlessly glide through the air.
Habitat and Range
Turkey Vultures can be found in most habitats within Texas, although they are generally more common in semi-open or wooded areas. However, Turkey Vultures are present in most habitats in Texas. Therefore, watch for them overhead in forests, agricultural fields, arid foothills, and beaches.
Turkey Vultures seek quiet, secluded spots to raise their young during the breeding season. Small caves, tree cavities, and abandoned buildings are often good spots for a family to reside. Groups of Turkey Vultures roost in similar locations as Black Vultures. Therefore, look for this vulture in Texas in large, dead trees or on large rocks.
These Texas vultures can be found throughout the state. Indeed, they are usually the only vultures in North Texas. Moreover, they are present in the Texas panhandle and western Texas where Black Vultures are absent.
Abundance
Turkey Vultures are among the most widely reported birds in Texas, as there have been more than 900,000 eBird checklists from the state that contain these vultures in Texas.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Do Turkey Vultures migrate?” then you’re not alone. Indeed, Turkey Vultures in Texas are most common from March through May and from mid-September through November as per eBird data. This clearly suggests that some of these Texas vultures are migratory. Although they are migratory, there are still many thousands of Turkey Vultures that breed in the Lone Star State.
Vultures In Texas Size
Now that you know a bit about the types vultures in Texas, you may be curious about how big these birds are. Let’s talk about vultures in Texas size.
Both Black and Turkey Vultures are larger than most of their raptor counterparts in the state of Texas. Black Vultures tend to be smaller than Turkey Vultures, measuring 23.5 to 27 inches. Meanwhile, Turkey Vultures measure 25 to 32 inches, earned them the distinction of being the biggest vulture in Texas.
Some are concerned by the large size of the vultures of Texas. While a Texas vulture species is certainly imposing, remember that they are scavengers by nature. They are not interested in hurting humans, and they hardly have the means of doing so even if they were interested.
Indeed, people are more likely to be injured by hawks than a harmless vulture.
Buzzards In Texas
I’ve now thoroughly discussed the vultures of Texas, but you may have noticed that I did not mention buzzards in Texas. So, are there buzzards in Texas? What is the difference between a buzzard vs vulture in Texas?
Let’s start with the question, “Are there buzzards in Texas?”. The answer to this question would be both yes and no. You see, the discussion of buzzards vs vultures has become complicated within the United States. In other parts of the world, some hawks are referred to as buzzards. However, in the United States, people have gotten into the habit of referring to vultures as buzzards.
Therefore, quite a conundrum has now been created in America. In this case, Texas buzzards and vultures are no different from one another. When you hear mention of “turkey buzzards”, people are surely trying to describe Turkey Vultures.
Bottom line: there are no species of true types of buzzards in Texas. Instead, know that a vulture and Texas buzzard are the same thing.
Conclusion
A variety of different topics were covered in this article. Let’s recap the main points:
- Are there vultures in Texas? Yes
- What are the types of vultures in Texas? Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture
- Are there buzzards in Texas? No