Turkey Vulture
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, kites and harriers. 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
Referenced By
American Black Vulture | Buzzard | Cathartidae | Common Buzzard | King Vulture | List of Birds of Santa Cruz County, California | List of North American birds: non-passerines | New World Vulture | North American birds | Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge | Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex
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