A turkey vulture standing on the ground can at a distance resemble a wild turkey. Aura aura turkey vultures are non migratory.
You will often see them in farm fields or hanging out next to the road.
Turkey vulture. In reality these scavenging birds are actually very important for the health and success of an ecosystem. However they are not likely to be in your backyard unless something has died or else you have a very large backyard. It displaces the yellow headed vultures from carcasses due to its larger size but is displaced in turn by the king vulture and both types of condor which make the first cut.
The oldest recorded turkey vulture was at least 16 years 10 months. A familiar sight in the sky over much of north america is the dark long winged form of the turkey vulture soaring high over the landscape. One of three species in the genus cathartes of the family cathartidae the turkey vulture ranges from southern canada to the southernmost tip of south america.
The turkey vulture arrives first at the carcass or with greater yellow headed vultures or lesser yellow headed vultures which also share the ability to smell carrion. Like storks the turkey vulture defecates on its own legs using evaporation of the water in the feces and urine to cool itself down. The turkey vulture is a gentle and non aggressive bird that is often seen standing with its wings spread in a horaltic pose usually drying its wings warming its body or baking off bacteria.
Society in general portrays turkey vultures and vultures in general as dirty evil harbingers of death. By feeding on carrion vultures help prevent the spread of deadly diseases. The turkey vulture cathartes aura is the most common of the cathartid species.
Turkey vulture also called turkey buzzard cathartes aura long winged long tailed vulture family cathartidae the new world vultures that has dark plumage a whitish beak white legs and a bare red head black in immature birds that is covered with whitish bumpsits wingspread is about 18 m 6 feet and its length is about 75 cm 30 inches. Bigger than other raptors except eagles and condors they have long fingers at their wingtips and long tails that extend past their toe tips in flight. They belong to the true vultures of the new world and their physical appearance reminds us of true vultures of the old world.
Except for the subspecies c. Turkey vultures are accustomed to living near humans and snacking off of our leavings. Turkey vultures are large dark birds with long broad wings.
The turkey vulture cathartes aura also known in some north american regions as the turkey buzzard or just buzzard and in some areas of the caribbean as the john crow or carrion crow is the most widespread of the new world vultures. When soaring turkey vultures hold their wings slightly raised making a v when seen head on. It is thought to occur from canadian border all the way to the southern tip of south america.
The most widespread vulture in north america the turkey vulture is locally called buzzard in many areas. Most birds are believed to have a very poor sense of smell but the turkey vulture is an exception apparently able to find carrion by odor.
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