C. a. septentrionalis is found in the eastern United States and west into Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas. C. a. meridionalis breeds mostly west of the above subspecies and down into Baja California, excluding the lower Colorado River valley. Turkey vultures have a dark brown body with a red head and white-tipped bill. The head is small in comparison to the rest of the body. Males and females are similar in size and weight.
Little data are available.
Although they eat decaying flesh, they seem to prefer fresh meat. They have also been known to eat live animals. For example, young or dying mammals and birds. When carrion is scarce, they have also been known to eat vegetable matter. Interesting studies and observations have been made regarding the turkey vulture's sense of smell, in fact, a debate on this topic lasted over a century.