* The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy.
* The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals.
* Like its stork relatives, the Turkey Vulture often defecates on its own legs, using the evaporation of the water in the feces to cool itself down.
* The Turkey Vulture usually forages alone, unlike its smaller, more social relative, the Black Vulture. Although one Turkey Vulture can dominate a single Black Vulture at a carcass, usually such a large number of Black Vultures appear that they can overwhelm a solitary Turkey Vulture and take most of the food.
The Turkey Vulture is sometimes accused of carrying anthrax or hog cholera, both livestock diseases, on its feet or bill by cattle ranchers and is therefore occasionally perceived as a threat.However, the virus which causes hog cholera is destroyed when it passes through the Turkey Vulture’s digestive tract. It may also be perceived as a threat by farmers due to the similar Black Vulture’s tendency to attack and kill newborn cattle. The Turkey Vulture does not kill live animals, but will mix with flocks of Black Vultures and will scavenge what they leave behind. Nonetheless, their appearance at a location where a calf has been killed gives the incorrect impression that the Turkey Vulture represents a danger to calves as well.
The droppings produced by Turkey Vultures and other vultures can harm or kill trees and other vegetation. The Turkey Vulture can be held in captivity, though the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prevents this in the case of animals which are not injured or unable to return to the wild. In captivity, it can be fed fresh meat, and younger birds will gorge themselves if given the opportunity.