Turkey Vulture

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The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most common vulture in the Americas. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Old World vultures in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, hawks, kites and harriers. The American species is a New World vulture in the family Cathartidae.

This bird got its common name because the adult's bald red head was thought to resemble that of a male Wild Turkey.

Appearance

The typical adult bird is an average 76 cm long with a 185 cm wingspan, and weighing 1.4 kg. They are mostly brownish-black, but the flight feathers are gray, creating a contrasting pattern. The head is small in proportion to the body and has no feathers on it; the adults' heads are red and the immatures' are black.

Flight

Soaring adult holds its wings up in characteristic V-shape

While soaring, they hold their wings in a V-shape and often tip "drunkenly" from side to side, sometimes causing the gray flight feathers to look silvery as they catch the light. The flight style, small-headed and narrow-winged silhouette, and underwing pattern make this bird easy to identify at great distances. They often take advantage of rising thermals to keep them soaring.

These birds soar over open areas, watching for dead animals or other scavengers at work. Unlike most other birds, they also rely on smell to help locate their food. They also eat some vegetation.

Habitat

The Turkey Vulture is found in open and semi-open areas throughout the Americas from southern Canada to Cape Horn. It is a permanent resident in the southern United States but northern birds may migrate as far south as South America.

The nesting site is in a protected location: on a cliff, inside a hollow tree or in a thicket. There is little or no construction of a nest. Females lay two eggs, cream-colored with brown spots. Both parents incubate, and the young hatch at around 40 days. The adults regurgitate food for them and care for them for 10 to 11 weeks.

Often, small to large groups of these birds spend the night at communal roosts. Favoured locations may be reused for many years.

Protection status

In the United States, this species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Aircraft hazard

This bird is said to be the most damaging bird to aircraft in birdstrikes as rated by the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Laboratory.

As of July's 2006 planned launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121 mission, NASA is taking actions to prevent any vultures and other birds from striking the shuttle during liftoff, as it can possibly present certain threat of damaging the vehicle.

Images

References

• ffrench, Birds of Trinidad and Tobago ISBN 0-7136-6759-1
• BirdLife International (2004). [Cathartes aura]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-0814-9600-4

External links

• [The Turkey Vulture Society]
• [The USGS page on Turkey Vultures]
• [Turkey Vulture videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
• [Extensive Turkey Vulture photo slideshow]

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