It has always been my firm belief that the when you saw a turkey vulture, it was finally spring. Magnificent, soaring gracefully across the valleys, preforming their wonderful aerial dances and all the time searching for food. Remarkable, in grace and effortless flight, also for their ability , rare in birds, to find food using their sense of smell.
On the way home yesterday I spotted one enjoying its favorite meal of carrion, as the car got closer if flew into the trees. This mighty raptor will win no beauty contest when seen up close, but in flight........awesome.
The Peregrine Fund , 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709, United States of America
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
MEASUREMENTS: The Turkey Vulture has a body length of 24 - 25 inches, a wingspan of 5 - 6 feet, and weighs 3 1/2 - 5 pounds.
Turkey Vulture habitat mapHABITAT: Turkey Vultures exist in a wide range of habitats from deserts to savannas and grasslands, to tropical and temperate forests. The bird’s range extends across much of the continental United States, into Central America, and throughout most of South America. Birds in the northern limits of its range migrate south as far as South America.
DIET: Turkey Vultures are almost entirely carrion eaters and feed on medium-sized dead animals. These birds use their sight and acute sense of smell to find food during low level soaring flights.
REPRODUCTION: This vulture nests in small caves, on the ground under bushes, or in hollowed stumps and logs. The female lays 2 eggs that are incubated for 38 - 41 days. Unlike most birds of prey, the chicks are fed regurgitated food, not fresh pieces of meat. The young vultures fledge in 10 - 11 weeks.
NAME DERIVATION: he scientific name comes from the Greek word kathartes, representing a cleanser or purifier and refers to the scavenging nature of the bird, and aurouá, which is the Latinized word for the name Mexican Indians gave to vultures. The common name refers to the red skin on the head and dark body feathers that resemble the Wild Turkey. Turkey Vultures have been called Buzzards, John Crow, Red-necked Buzzard, and Carrion Crows.
INTERESTING FACTS:
* The Turkey Vulture is one of the few birds of prey that is able to use its sense of smell to locate food.
* With the warmer climate in North America and an increase in road-killed animals, Turkey Vultures have extended their range northward.
