turkey vulture Cathartes aura
New world vultures (Family Cathartidae) – All carrion eaters. Adaptions to this food source include a small, unfeathered head and a hooked bill.
Flight Field ID trait:
- Wings held in a shallow “V”- rocks gently side-to-side with little flapping; called a “dihedral” shape.
- Underwings distinctly 2-toned due to silvery flight feathers.
- Rather long wings & tail
- Feathers absent on head, skin is red (adult)
- White bill (adult)
- Migrates to southern US, Mexico & Central America for the winter
Photos by Rod Gilbert
Photos by Rod Gilbert