Turkey Vulture
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/28156071@N00">Don DeBold</a> from San Jose, CA, USA (CC BY 2.0)
NameTurkey Vulture
Common NameTurkey Vulture
Scientific NameCathartes aura
FamilyCathartidae
Wingspan (cm)170
Length (cm)70
Weight (g)1400
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark brown to black body plumage with a silvery-gray underside to the flight feathers, visible when soaring. The head is featherless and bright red in adults, while juveniles have a grayish head. The beak is pale, hooked, and relatively small for its body size.
Vocalization / CallTurkey Vultures lack a syrinx, so they cannot sing. Their vocalizations are limited to hisses and grunts, especially when threatened or competing for food.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, desert, shrubland, wetland, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread throughout the Americas, from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico, Central America, and much of South America to Tierra del Fuego.
Identifying Featuresfeatherless red head (adults), dark brown/black plumage, silvery-gray undersides of flight feathers, dihedral wing shape in flight, wobbly flight pattern, keen sense of smell for carrion
Description
The Turkey Vulture is a large scavenger bird with dark brown to black plumage and a distinctive featherless red head in adults. It is often seen soaring high in the sky, using its keen sense of smell to locate carrion, and perching on dead trees or poles.
