turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 25 inches Wingspan: 72 inches

• Sexes similar

• Very large, broad-winged, soaring bird

• Long and rounded tail

• Longish, hooked bill

• Rather short, thick legs

• Holds wings in a dihedral angle while soaring and gliding

• Spends most time soaring, infrequent flaps are slow and laborious

• small, unfeathered head

• Plumage dark brown except for paler flight feathers, appearing black            and gray

• Immature like adult

Adult:

• Red head

• Yellowish bill

• Reddish legs

Immature:

• Gray head

• Gray bill

• Gray legs

Similar species:

The black vulture is also dark with an unfeathered head, but has a much
differet shape in flight. It is short-winged, short-tailed, and intersperses
glides on flat wings with quick, snappy wingbeats. Turkey vultures lack
the white patch at the wingtips and show contrast between paler flight
feathers and darker coverts. Bald and golden eagles are both superficially
similar, but fly on flat wings, have feathered heads, and do not have
contrastingly gray flight feathers. The zone-tailed hawk in the Southwest
has a similar shape and flight style, but has a feathered head and white
bands on a black tail.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: N/A
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 2
Length of Incubation: 38-41 days
Days to Fledge: 66-88
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: primarily carrion

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February C

 

 

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