TURKEY VULTURE

(BUZZARD)

Cathartes aura

BIRD

order Falconiformes

Description

2-3 ft long; wingspan up to 5 ft. Head and upper neck bare with reddish skin (black in immature birds); plumage dark brown or black. Tail narrower and head longer than the similar black vulture. Chicks covered with long, white down.

Range

southern Canada to southernmost parts of South America

Status

Not currently listed as endagered. The turkey vulture is sometimes trapped, killed under the mistaken assumption that it carries diseases and kills livestock. Its carrion-eating habit makes it a most beneficial species because it cleans up decaying animals that could be a potential disease source. The international trade of this species is regulated by the law.


Photo © James P. Rowan Photography

 

Ecology

Habitat
lives over open plains, deserts and forests; rests on cliffs in hollow trees or on the ground under dense cover.
 
Niche
eats almost entirely carrion with some rotten fruits and vegetables. Usually hunts 200 ft above ground or just above tree tops; also soars higher on thermal currents. Not particularly social, but gathers at a food source.

Life History

Mating occurs in spring. Usually 2 eggs laid on bare rock, hollow trees or in dense shrubbery; no nest materials. Eggs hatch in about 5 wks. Young fledge at 2.5-3 mos.

Special Adaptations

  • Bare head and neck keep bird clean while it thrusts its head into animal carcass to feed.
  • Long beak with hooked end designed for tearing flesh.
  • Long toes provide a stable base while bird is feeding.
  • Long, broad wings designed for soaring over great distances in search of prey.
  • Large eyes and excellent eyesight help bird locate prey from great heights.
  • Dark plumage helps to camouflage bird in dense cover or at nesting site. (Red head does not occur in young birds.)