Turkey Vulture
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| Cathartes aura |
The Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura is an extremely graceful bird in flight. It seldom needs to flap its long wings once airborne, but soars high overhead looking for carcasses. One of nature's best rubbish disposals.
It is the commonest North American vulture.
Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Old World vultures in the family Accipitridae, which includes eagles, hawks, kitess and harrierss. The American species is a New World vulture in the family Cathartidae.
Turkey vulture is a summer migrant over much of its range.
The image is a public domain picture from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
see also
- American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
- Californian Condor Gymnogyps californianus
