Population status

Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)

The Turkey Vulture is best monitored in Canada by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which indicates a dramatic increase in population since 1970. The second iterations of breeding bird atlases in Ontario, Québec (Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Quebec 2017), and the Maritimes (Makepeace 2015) all show large increases in the number of records and probability of observation of Turkey Vultures, and provide strong evidence of its range expansion in Canada over the last few decades. BBS results from throughout North America, which pool the larger American population with the smaller Canadian population, also show a significant increase in the population at the continental level since 1970. The Turkey Vulture is at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see BBS Canada graph below).

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
Turkey VultureMean abundance (first 5 years of survey)Goal minus 25% Not applicable

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime Period Table 1 - footnote 1 Annual trend Table 1 - footnote 2 Limits
LowerUpper
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20168.27.19.2
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis2006-20167.8510.2
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20167.74.510.8
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20167.669.2
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Select to view graph of the geographic area: Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20168.87.510.2
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20162.82.53.1
 

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Additional information on: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Table 2: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual trend (%) Table 2 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
Ontario1981/85 - 2001/054.13.25
 

References