Bird of Prey: Turkey Vulture
The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger, feeding off the remains of dead domestic and wild animals. Dependent on its sense of smell to locate the carcasses, a fresh kill will not always attract its attention. If the carcass has been left in the open for a day or more, the Turkey Vulture will be there.
Pretty Bird!
Description
Compared to the rest of its body, the Turkey Vulture's bald red head is disproportionately small. Its ivory-colored beak is short and hooked.
The immature Turkey Vulture has a black head rather than the trademark red. As the bird matures the black gradually gives way to red.
Range and Habitat
The Turkey Vulture can be seen throughout North America. It prefers the open and semi-open areas such as deserts and shrub-lands, provided there are woods nearby for nesting sites. They tend to avoid heavily wooded areas but can be found in wetlands and grasslands throughout the country. Birds residing in the northern most part of the range will migrate south for the winter. Turkey Vulture
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Did You Know?
Turkey Vultures feed their young regurgitated carrion, a vile smelling substance that is also used to repel nest raiders.
Mating and Nesting Habits
The breeding season starts in March and continues through June. The mating ritual includes a dance. Several Turkey Vultures form a circle and hop around the perimeter with their wings partially spread. In flight one will closely follow another while flapping and diving to draw its attention.The female lays the eggs in a protected site such as a cliff ledge or rocky crevice. Sometimes a cave, a hollowed out tree or thicket is used. There's little or no nest building. The female usually lays the spotted cream colored eggs on the bare surface. The clutch usually consists of 1 to 3 eggs and is incubated for 30 to 40 days by both parents. The chicks are helpless at birth and are fed by regurgitation. The chicks fledge at 10 to 11 weeks and the family stays together throughout the summer.
Did You Know?
The Turkey Vulture will occasionally take small prey but their flight is slow and their talons weak. More often than not, the would-be prey escapes.
Diet
The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger. They feed exclusively on carrion. Their eyesight is keen, but they use their sense of smell to locate a carcass. A carcass left in the open for a day or two is more likely to catch their attention than a fresh kill. Flight
The Turkey Vulture in Flight
Birds of Prey
Interesting Trivia
2. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
3. They can live to be 50 years of age.
4. Seen soaring at a distance, they are often mistaken for an Eagle.
5. Turkey Vultures are gregarious and will join communal roosts.
6. It lowers its body temperature at night to conserve energy.
7. It is awkward on the ground. Rather than walk or run, it hops.
Birds of Prey
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Lizzy's Lensographies
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Busy Lizzy's Birds of Prey
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Birds of Prey or Raptors are birds that usually hunt on the wing. They use their keen sense of sight to spot prey, swoop down, and capture it. They usually have large, powerful beaks and talons for tearing and piercing the flesh of their prey.
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Busy Lizzy's Aquatic Birds
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Aquatic birds live on or near bodies of water. They acquire their food from the water, the shorelines, or animals within the same region. They include seabirds, such as gulls, pelicans, albatrosses, and ducks, swans and geese.
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Busy Lizzy's Backyard Birds
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As we go through life, some sights and events have a profound impact on our lives, while others flitter past unnoticed. Some passions can be traced back to that single pivotal point while others grow seemingly unnoticed for years. I am a morning pers...
Seen any great birds lately?
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kirie
Great Lense! Once I figure out how... I will favorite this at my squidoo birdwatchingtips lens and link it to my turkey vultures entry at my blog http://birdsight.com Posted August 18, 2008 |
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UncleCharley
Great Lens, I love all natures creatures and will be visiting all your lenses. We have the cousin of the Turkey Vulture, the American Vulture which has a black head instead of red. We enjoy watching them every day as they circle and soar above our house. Keep up the good work. Posted August 07, 2008 |
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utradesports
Great lens. Lots of useful information. Never really thought of Turkey Vultures before. Interesting birds. Posted July 24, 2008 |
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KimGiancaterino
We had a lot of turkey vultures in Livermore (California) where I grew up. They're very beautiful. Congratulations on attaining Giant Squid Status. Angel Blessed! Posted July 04, 2008 |
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rms
Your bird lenses are amazing! Keep 'em coming! Posted June 22, 2008 |
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Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Turkey Vulture (Catharts aura),The Peregrine Fund
Carolina Raptor Center
