The Role of Olfaction in Food Location by the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Kenneth E. Stager

Abstract

An experimental approach to the problem of the olfactory ability of the turkey vulture, correlated with morphological studies, has provided evidence of a well-developed sense of smell in this species. Information is presented concerning the ethology of cathar-tine vultures. The flight, food- locating habits, agonistic and predatory behavior of the five cathartine vultures are compared. The king vulture (Sarcoramphus) of tropical America, although its behavior is poorly known, appears, on the basis of present etho-logical and morphological data, also to utilize olfaction in its location of food. The need for a detailed study of the food-locating habits of Sarcoramphus is thus indicated. There is no evidence, either ethological or morphological, to indicate that olfaction plays more than a minor role, if any, in food location by Cora-gyps, Gymnogyps, and Vultur, There likewise are no data to indicate that the Old World vultures employ any sense other than vision in the location of food.