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You are here: Home / Wildlife / Birds / Birds ’round Here: Turkey Vulture

September 7, 2017 by: RidgetopFarm&Garden

Birds ’round Here: Turkey Vulture

Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

The first Saturday in September is International Vulture Awareness Day, so my bird pick for this month is the Turkey Vulture.

They are often mistakenly referred to as the Turkey Buzzard. They are also often frowned upon because of their gross habit of eating roadkill. I, however, appreciate their clean up efforts. Also, they prefer their meal already dead which means my chickens and goats are safe from these large birds.

 

IDENTIFICATION

HEAD: bright red. primarily unfeathered
BILL: white
BODY: brown/black
WINGS: brown/black. underside of flight feathers is ivory

Notice the red, nearly bald head & white curved bill.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

During a Birds of Flight show at the Oregon Zoo, I was able to get a good look at the light colored flight feathers.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

From a distance, Turkey Vultures appear black. However in actuality, they have a lot of brown tones mixed in.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

HABITAT

Turkey Vultures can be found in North and South America, typically in open wooded areas, deserts, and countrysides.

This one is circling the hill behind our house.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

FEEDING

Turkey Vultures are scavengers, feeding on dead animals. Their incredible sense of smell helps them find their next meal.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

FRIENDS & FAMILY

FAMILY: New World Vultures
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cathartes aura

Typically, I notice a small group of two or three Turkey Vultures soaring overhead. Occasionally, there is a larger flock. Even less often, I spot them flying with other large birds.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

FLIGHT

Turkey Vultures glide through the sky with their wings slightly raised. Their wingtips have long separated “fingers.”
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

Right Photo: riding the thermals high in the sky
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

We spotted this Turkey Vulture in the Redwoods.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | Pacific NW Birds | Turkey Vulture

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more info about these large, amazing birds check out my posts from International Vulture Awareness Day in 2013 and a trip to the Audubon Society, where I saw Ruby, a Turkey Vulture used as an education bird.

 

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