How to Tell the Difference Between a Soaring Turkey Vulture and Bald Eagle

A turkey vulture's head can be spotted even high in the sky.

High-flying turkey vultures and bald eagles can look similar to us ground dwellers. Here is a foolproof way to tell the difference between them. No binoculars needed!

Things You'll Need

• decent eyesight
• a location where both Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles can be spotted (along waterways in most of the United States)
• friends to impress with your new knowledge (optional, but adds to the fun)

Instructions

1. 

   A bald eagle's white head may get lost in the sky.

   Look for a head. If the soaring bird looks headless it is probably a mature bald eagle with the white head and tail. The white head often gets lost to our eyes in the bright sky. Eagles mature into their white heads and tails after about four or five years; before that they are brown -- they have white streaks, but look all brown while soaring.

   Both raptors often soar riding high on thermals. Turkey vultures are looking for delectable carnage to snack on, while bald eagles eat mostly fish.

2. Look at the angle of the wings. You'll get the best view when the bird is flying toward or away from you.

   If the bird's wings are straight across, it is a bald eagle.

3. If the bird's wings make a "V" shape, it is a turkey vulture.

Tips & Warnings

• Most other hawks and eagles are much smaller than turkey vultures and bald eagles.

• You may also see osprey soaring. They are easy to distinguish because they are lighter colored -- they look gray or white -- and a little smaller.

• With golden eagles potentially expanding their range, there is a chance that the soaring bird you think is an immature bald eagle is a golden eagle. From a far distance -- when they are soaring high -- there is no good way to tell, but bald eagles are more common.

• Caution: Bird watching can become addictive!

References

• National Park Service: Bald Eagles
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources: How To Spot a Bald Eagle