Black Vultures are silent most of the time. They make raspy, drawn-out hissing sounds while feeding and fighting, along with grunting noises that can sound like hungry pigs or dogs barking in the distance. Courting vultures may give a yapping sound.

Turkey vultures do not sing, cackle, scream, or call out in any way. This is because they do not have a voice box.

Calls. Turkey Vultures lack the vocal organs to make proper songs. Most of their vocalizations come down to a form of low, guttural hiss made when they are irritated or vying for a better spot on a carcass. They also may give a low, nasal whine while in flight.

1 : any of various large birds (families Accipitridae and Cathartidae) that are related to the hawks, eagles, and falcons but have weaker claws and the head usually naked and that subsist chiefly or entirely on carrion. 2 : a rapacious or predatory person.

Vulture Symbolism and Meaning The vulture symbolism is linked to death, rebirth, equalizing, perception, trust, seriousness, resourcefulness, intelligence, cleanliness, and protection. In many cultures, the vulture symbolizes a guardian or messenger between life and death, the physical world, and the spirit world.

Certain animals such as crows, cats, owls, moths, vultures and bats are associated with death; some because they feed on carrion, others because they are nocturnal. Along with death, vultures can also represent transformation and renewal.

Despite their intimidating presence, vultures are pretty harmless. They have no incentive to attack humans and they lack the physical attributes that could pose a threat. Although they are carnivorous, most vultures feed only on animals that are already dead.

Those are the three scenarios of what’s most likely going on when you see circling vultures. They are either waiting for a turkey vulture to sniff out food, and just killing time, or they are searching by sight, or they are waiting for a larger, perhaps dangerous, predator or scavenger on the ground to finish eating.

If you see buzzards on your roof in this posture, they’ve simply decided that your roof is a warm place to rest. The presence of vultures on your roof also means there’s probably a food source nearby. Buzzards may also perch and peck on your roof because they believe insects are crawling under the shingles.

Vultures are afraid of hawks and owls. To scare away the vultures put decoys of owls and hawks on nearby trees. The vultures will look for another place to perch. Among the most effective methods of keeping away vultures or buzzards as they are also known is making roosting impossible.

Another way to get rid of turkey vultures on roof is to install roosting spikes. The rods jut out, rendering your ledges and roofs unviable for perching. This works especially well for these big birds. Buzzards have weak feet, as evidenced by their sole reliance on their sharp, curved beak to tear apart dead animals.

Black vultures often damage homes and commercial buildings by tearing window caulking, roof shingles, vent seals, rubber roof liners, and pool covers. The birds’ feces and vomit can accumulate, especially on roofs of houses, office buildings, communication towers, and electrical transmission structures.