Turkey Vulture
Conservation status
Least Concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Cathartes Species: C. aura
Binomial name
Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758)
Approximate range/distribution map of the Turkey Vulture. Yellow indicates summer-only range, green indicates year-round range.

The Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, also known in North America as the Turkey Buzzard, is a bird found throughout most of the Americas. One of three species in the genus Cathartes, in the family Cathartidae, it is the most common of the New World vultures,^[2] ranging from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.^[1] With a wingspan of 173–183 cm (68–72 in) and an average weight of 1.4 kg (3.1 lb),^[3] the Turkey Vulture is a large bird. It has dark brown to black plumage, a featherless, purplish-red head and neck, and a short, hooked, ivory-colored beak. Download high resolution version (651x765, 259 KB)Turkey vulture in profile. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae (the Boat-billed Heron) Balaenicipitidae (the Shoebill) Scopidae (the Hammerkop) Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Cathartidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus Vultur The New World vultures family Cathartidae contains seven species found in warm and temperate areas of the Americas. ... Species Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus) Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) The genus Cathartes (Greek for purifier) includes medium-sized to large carrion-feeding birds in the New World vulture (Cathartidae) family. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Year 1758 (MDCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Species Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus) Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) The genus Cathartes (Greek for purifier) includes medium-sized to large carrion-feeding birds in the New World vulture (Cathartidae) family. ... Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus The New World vulture family Cathartidae contains seven species found in North and South America. ... Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus Vultur The New World vultures family Cathartidae contains seven species found in warm and temperate areas of the Americas. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Kg redirects here. ... The pound or pound-mass (abbreviations: lb, , lbm, or sometimes in the United States: #) is a unit of mass (sometimes called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including the imperial and US and older English systems. ... The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which, in addition to eating, is used for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, probing for food, courtship, and feeding their young. ...

The Turkey Vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion.^[4] It finds its meals using its sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gases produced by the beginnings of the process of decay in dead animals. In flight, it uses thermals to move through the air, flapping its wings infrequently. It roosts in large community groups. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses.^[5] It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets, generally raising two chicks each year, which it feeds by regurgitation.^[6] It has very few natural predators.^[7] In the United States of America, the vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.^[8] For a person who scavenges, see Waste picker. ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ... Example of a thermal column between the ground and a cumulus This article is about the atmospheric phenomenon. ... Syrinx is the name for the vocal cords of birds. ... Regurgitation is the controlled flow of stomach contents back into the oesophagus and mouth. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Under United States Code Title 16, Chapter 7, Subchapter II, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is the United States legislation implementing the convention between the U.S. and Great Britain (for Canada). ...

Taxonomy

The Turkey Vulture received its common name from the resemblance of the adult's bald red head and its dark plumage to that of the male Wild Turkey, while the name "vulture" is derived from the Latin word vulturus, meaning "tearer" and is a reference to its feeding habits.^[9] The word buzzard is used by North Americans to refer to this raptor, yet in the Old World this word refers to members of the genus Buteo.^[10] The generic term Cathartes means "purifier" and is the Latinized form from the Greek kathartēs/καθαρτης.^[11] The species name, aura, is Latinized from the Native Mexican word for the bird, auroura.^[9] The Turkey Vulture was first formally described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758.^[12] It is a member of the family Cathartidae, along with the other six species of New World vultures, and included in the genus Cathartes, along with the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture and the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. In science, a common name is any name by which a species or other concept is known that is not the official scientific name. ... Binomial name Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus, 1758 For other uses, see Wild Turkey (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... A buzzard is a type of bird of prey, in any of several different but related senses: A medium-sized wide-ranging raptor with a robust body and broad wings. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Cover of the tenth edition of Linnaeuss Systema Naturae (1758). ... Binomial name Wetmore, 1964 Approximate range/distribution map of the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, indicating countries of occurrence, rather than specific area occupied by the species. ... Binomial name Cassin, 1845 The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) is a species of bird of prey in the Cathartidae family. ...

The exact taxonomic placement of the Turkey Vulture and the remaining six species of New World Vultures remains unclear.^[13] Though both are similar in appearance and have similar ecological roles, the New World and Old World Vultures evolved from different ancestors in different parts of the world. Just how different the two are is currently under debate, with some earlier authorities suggesting that the New World vultures are more closely related to storks.^[14] More recent authorities maintain their overall position in the order Falconiformes along with the Old World Vultures^[15] or place them in their own order, Cathartiformes.^[16] The South American Classification Committee has removed the New World Vultures from Ciconiiformes and instead placed them in Incertae sedis, but notes that a move to Falconiformes or Cathartiformes is possible.^[13] Taxonomy (from Greek ταξινομία from the words taxis = order and nomos = law) may refer to either a hierarchical classification of things, or the principles underlying the classification. ... Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus Vultur The New World vultures family Cathartidae contains seven species found in warm and temperate areas of the Americas. ... Two lichens on a rock, in two different ecological niches In ecology, a niche; (pronounced nich, neesh or nish)[1] is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem[1]. The ecological niche; describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of... † see also: Accipitridae Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. ... Genera Mycteria Anastomus Ciconia Ephippiorhynchus Jabiru Leptoptilos The storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... The American Ornithologists Union (AOU) an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders. ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae (the Boat-billed Heron) Balaenicipitidae (the Shoebill) Scopidae (the Hammerkop) Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Cathartidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... Incertae sedis—of uncertain position (seat)—is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. ...

There are five subspecies of Turkey Vulture:

• C. a. aura is the nominate subspecies. It is found from Mexico south through South America and the Greater Antilles. This subspecies occasionally overlaps its range with other subspecies. It is the smallest of the subspecies, but is nearly indistinguishable from C. a. meridionalis in color.^[17]
• C. a. jota, the Chilean Turkey Vulture, is larger, browner, and slightly paler than C. a. ruficollis. The secondary feathers and wing coverts may have gray margins.^[18]
• C. a. meridionalis, the Western Turkey Vulture, and is a synonym for C. a. teter. C. a. teter was identified as a subspecies by Friedman in 1933, but in 1964 Alexander Wetmore separated the western birds, which took the name meridionalis, which was applied earlier to a migrant from South America. It ranges from southern Manitoba, southern British Colombia, and central Alberta, south to Baja California, south-central Arizona and south-central Texas.^[19] It is the most migratory subspecies because of its migration into South America, where it overlaps the range of C. a. aura. It is larger than C. a. aura. It differs from the Eastern Turkey Vulture in color, as the edges of the lesser wing coverts are darker brown and smaller.^[17]
• C. a. ruficollis is found in Panama south through Uruguay and Argentina. It is also found on the island of Trinidad.^[20] It is darker and more black than C. a. aura, with brown wing edgings which are smaller or absent altogether.^[20] The head and neck are dull red with yellow-white or green-white markings. Adults generally have a pale yellow patch on the crown of the head.^[18]
• C. a. septentrionalis is known as the Eastern Turkey Vulture. The Eastern and Western Turkey Vultures differ in tail and wing proportions. It ranges from southeastern Canada south through the eastern United States. It is less migratory than C. a. meridionalis and rarely migrates to areas south of the United States.^[17]

South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Location of the Greater Antilles (green) in relation to the rest of the Caribbean The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as the West Indies are sorted by size and location into the Bahamas (or Lucayan archipelago), the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles. ... Frank Alexander Wetmore (June 18, 1886 _ December 7, 1978) was an American ornithologist and avian paleontologist. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Official languages English French (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 14 Senate seats 6 Confederation July 15, 1870 (5th) Area  Ranked 8th Total 647,797... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages none stated in law; English is de facto Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Trinidad (disambiguation). ...

Description

The typical adult Turkey Vulture is from 66–81 cm (26–32 in) long with a 173–183 cm (68–72 in) wingspan and a weight of 1.4 kg (3.1 lb).^[3] It displays minimal sexual dimorphism; sexes are identical in plumage and in coloration, though the female is slightly larger.^[21] The body feathers are mostly brownish-black, but the flight feathers on the wings appear to be silvery-gray beneath, contrasting with the darker wing linings.^[3] The adult's head is small in proportion to its body and is red in color with few to no feathers. It also has a relatively short, hooked, ivory-colored beak.^[22] The irises of the eyes are gray-brown and the legs and feet are white. The eye has a single incomplete row of eyelashes on the upper lid and two rows on the lower lid.^[23] A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... Kg redirects here. ... The pound or pound-mass (abbreviations: lb, , lbm, or sometimes in the United States: #) is a unit of mass (sometimes called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including the imperial and US and older English systems. ... Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in both color and size, between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ... Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight, showing remiges and rectrices. ... An eyelash or simply lash is one of the hairs that grow at the edge of the eyelid. ...

A side view, showing the perforated nostrils.

The two front toes of the foot are long and have small webs at their bases.^[24] The feet are flat, relatively weak, and are poorly adapted to grasping; the talons are also not designed for grasping, as they are relatively blunt.^[2] In flight, the tail is long and slim, in contrast to that of the Black Vulture. The nostrils are not divided by a septum, but rather are perforate; from the side one can see through the beak.^[25] It undergoes a molt in late winter to early spring. It is a gradual molt, which lasts until early autumn.^[6] The immature bird has a gray head with a black beak tip; the colors change to those of the adult as the bird matures.^[26] The Turkey Vulture may live as long as 21 years in captivity, with the oldest wild captured banded bird being 16 years old.^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793) A common New World vulture, the American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, tends to have a more southerly distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada. ... In animals, moulting (Commonwealth English) or molting (American English) is the routine shedding off old feathers in birds, or of old skin in reptiles, or of old hairs in mammals (see also coat (dog)). In arthropods, such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, moulting describes the shedding of its exoskeleton (which...

Leucistic (sometimes mistakenly called "albino") Turkey Vultures are sometimes seen.^[27] The well-documented records come from the United States of America, but this probably reflects the fact that such birds are more commonly reported by birders there, rather than a geographical variation. Even in the United States, white Turkey Vultures (though they presumably always turned up every now and then) were only discussed in birder and raptor conservation circles and are not scientifically studied.^[28] A form of albinism. ... Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. ... Birding or birdwatching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of birds (the study proper is termed American origin; birdwatching is (or more correctly, was) the commonly-used word in Great Britain and Ireland and by non-birders in the United States. ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ...

The Turkey Vulture, like most other vultures, has very few vocalization capabilities. Because it lacks a syrinx, it can only utter hisses and grunts.^[5] It usually hisses when it feels threatened. Grunts are commonly heard from hungry young and from adults in their courtship display. Syrinx is the name for the vocal cords of birds. ...

Distribution and habitat

The Turkey Vulture has a large range, with an estimated global occurrence of 28,000,000 km². It is the most common vulture in the Americas.^[2] Its global population is estimated to be 4,500,000 individuals.^[1] It is found in open and semi-open areas throughout the Americas from southern Canada to Cape Horn. It is a permanent resident in the southern United States, though northern birds may migrate as far south as South America.^[4] The Turkey Vulture is widespread over open country, subtropical forests, shrublands, deserts, and foothills.^[29] It is also found in pastures, grasslands, and wetlands.^[1] It is most commonly found in relatively open areas which provide nearby woods for nesting and it generally avoids heavily forested areas.^[3] World map showing the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere historically considered to consist of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Cape Horn from the South. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys of varying distances undertaken by many species of birds. ...

Ecology and behavior

Adult in spread-winged stance

The Turkey Vulture is gregarious and roosts in large community groups, breaking away to forage independently during the day. Several hundred vultures may roost communally in groups which sometimes even include Black Vultures. It roosts on dead, leafless trees; though it nests in caves, it does not enter them except during the breeding season.^[6] The Turkey Vulture lowers its night-time body temperature by about 6° Celsius (11°F) to 34° Celsius (93°F), becoming slightly hypothermic.^[24] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 755 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (900 × 715 pixels, file size: 613 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 755 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (900 × 715 pixels, file size: 613 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Binomial name Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793) A common New World vulture, the American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, tends to have a more southerly distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada. ... Hypothermia is a condition in which an organisms temperature drops below that Required fOr normal metabolism and Bodily functionS. In warm-blooded animals, core [[body Temperature]] is maintained nEar a constant leVel through biologic [[homEostasis]]. But wheN the body iS exposed to cold Its internal mechanismS may be unable...

This vulture is often seen standing in a spread-winged stance. The stance is believed to serve multiple functions: drying the wings, warming the body, and baking off bacteria. It is practiced more often following damp or rainy nights. This same behavior is displayed by other New World vultures, by Old World vultures, and by storks.^[7] Like storks, the Turkey Vulture often defecates on its own legs, using the evaporation of the water in the feces and/or urine to cool itself, a process known as urohydrosis.^[30] It cools the blood vessels in the unfeathered tarsi and feet, and causes white uric acid to streak the legs.^[31] Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus Vultur The New World vultures family Cathartidae contains seven species found in warm and temperate areas of the Americas. ... Genera See text. ... For other uses, see Stork (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Stork (disambiguation). ... This article is considered orphaned, since there are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... FIG. 268– Bones of the right foot. ... Uric acid (or urate) is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. ...

The Turkey Vulture has few natural predators. Its primary form of defense is regurgitating semi-digested meat, a foul-smelling substance which deters most creatures intent on raiding a vulture nest.^[6] It will also sting if the predator is close enough to get the vomit in its face or eyes. In some cases, the vulture must rid its crop of a heavy, undigested meal in order to take flight to flee from a potential predator.^[22]

The Turkey Vulture is awkward on the ground with an ungainly, hopping walk. It requires a great deal of effort to take flight, flapping its wings while pushing off the ground and hopping with its feet.^[22] While soaring, the Turkey Vultures holds its wings in a shallow V-shape and often tips from side to side, frequently causing the gray flight feathers to appear silvery as they catch the light. The flight of the Turkey Vulture is an example of static soaring flight, in which it flaps its wings very infrequently, and takes advantage of rising thermals to stay soaring.^[32] In geometry, the dihedral is the angle between two planes. ... Example of a thermal column between the ground and a cumulus This article is about the atmospheric phenomenon. ...

Diet

The Turkey Vulture feeds primarily on a wide variety of carrion, from small mammals to large grazers, preferring those recently dead, and avoiding carcasses that have reached the point of putrification. It may rarely feed on plant matter, shoreline vegetation, pumpkin and other crops, live insects and other invertebrates.^[29] It rarely, if ever, kills prey itself.^[33] The Turkey Vulture can often be seen along roadsides feeding on roadkill, or near bodies of water, feeding on washed-up fish.^[4] It also will feed on fish or insects which have become stranded in shallow water.^[6] Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.^[34] Invertebrate is a term coined by Chevalier de Lamarck to describe any animal without a backbone or vertebra, like insects, squids and worms. ... For the professional wrestler known as Roadkill, see Michael Depoli, for the movie marketed as Roadkill in the UK and Australia, see Joy Ride, for the Supernatural TV series episode, see Roadkill (Supernatural). ... A coral reef near the Hawaiian islands is an example of a complex marine ecosystem. ...

The Turkey Vulture forages by smell, an ability which is uncommon in the avian world. It will often fly low to the ground to pick up the scent of ethyl mercaptan, a gas produced by the beginnings of decay in dead animals. The olfactory lobe of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large compared to other animals.^[7] This heightened ability to detect odors allows it to search for carrion below the forest canopy. King Vultures and Black Vultures, which lack the ability to smell carrion, follow the Turkey Vulture to carcasses. The Turkey Vulture arrives first at the carcass, or with Greater Yellow-headed Vultures or Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures, which also share the ability to smell carrion. It displaces the Yellow-headed Vultures from carcasses due to its larger size,^[34] but is displaced in turn by the King Vulture, which makes the first cut into the skin of the dead animal. This allows the smaller, weaker-billed, Turkey Vulture access to food, because it cannot tear the tough hides of larger animals on its own. This is an example of mutual dependence between species.^[35] Ethanethiol, also known as ethyl mercaptan, is an organic compound used as an odorant in propane. ... Olfaction (also known as olfactics) refers to the sense of smell. ... The human brain In animals, the brain (enkephale) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ... This article is about a community of trees. ... The King Vulture or American King Vulture, Sarcoramphus papa, is the most strikingly colored of the New World vultures. ... Binomial name Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793) A common New World vulture, the American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, tends to have a more southerly distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada. ... Binomial name Wetmore, 1964 Approximate range/distribution map of the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, indicating countries of occurrence, rather than specific area occupied by the species. ... Binomial name Cassin, 1845 The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) is a species of bird of prey in the Cathartidae family. ... Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ...

Reproduction

A Turkey Vulture hatchling in the nest

The breeding season of the Turkey Vulture commences in March, peaks in April to May, but continues into June.^{[clarify][36]} Part of courtship rituals of the Turkey Vulture involves several Turkey Vultures gathering in a circle, where they perform hopping movements around the perimeter of the circle with wings partially spread. In the air, one bird closely follows the other while flapping and diving.^[29] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 553 pixelsFull resolution (964 × 666 pixel, file size: 615 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Just hatched on 5/29/2007 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 553 pixelsFull resolution (964 × 666 pixel, file size: 615 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Just hatched on 5/29/2007 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old...

Eggs are generally laid in the nesting site in a protected location such as a cliff, a cave, a rock crevice, a burrow, inside a hollow tree, or in a thicket. There is little or no construction of a nest; eggs are laid on a bare surface. Females generally lay two eggs, but sometimes one and rarely three. The eggs are cream-colored, with brown or lavender spots around their larger end.^[29] Both parents incubate, and the young hatch after 30 to 40 days. Chicks are altricial, or helpless at birth. Both adults feed the chicks by regurgitating food for them, and care for them for 10 to 11 weeks. When adults are threatened while nesting, they may flee, or they may regurgitate on the intruder or feign death.^[6] If the chicks are threatened in the nest, they defend themselves by hissing and regurgitating.^[29] The young fledge at about nine to ten weeks. Family groups remain together until fall.^[29] In bird and mammal biology, altricial species are those whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile, have closed eyes, lack hair or down, and must be cared for by the adults. ... Regurgitation is the controlled flow of stomach contents back into the oesophagus and mouth. ...

Relationship with humans

The Turkey Vulture is sometimes accused of carrying anthrax or hog cholera, both livestock diseases, on its feet or bill by cattle ranchers and is therefore occasionally perceived as a threat.^[37] However, the virus which causes hog cholera is destroyed when it passes through the Turkey Vulture's digestive tract.^[22] It may also be perceived as a threat by farmers due to the similar Black Vulture's tendency to attack and kill newborn cattle. The Turkey Vulture does not kill live animals, but will mix with flocks of Black Vultures and will scavenge what they leave behind. Nonetheless, their appearance at a location where a calf has been killed gives the incorrect impression that the Turkey Vulture represents a danger to calves as well.^[38] The droppings produced by Turkey Vultures and other vultures can harm or kill trees and other vegetation.^[39] The Turkey Vulture can be held in captivity, though the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prevents this in the case of animals which are not injured or unable to return to the wild.^[40] In captivity, it can be fed fresh meat, and younger birds will gorge themselves if given the opportunity.^[22] Under United States Code Title 16, Chapter 7, Subchapter II, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is the United States legislation implementing the convention between the U.S. and Great Britain (for Canada). ...

Turkey Vulture in the Everglades

The Turkey Vulture species receives special legal protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States,^[8] by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada,^[41] and by the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals in Mexico.^[41] In the USA it is illegal to take, kill, or possess Turkey Vultures, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to 15,000 US dollars and imprisonment of up to six months.^[40] It is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Populations appear to remain stable, and it has not reached the threshold of inclusion as a threatened species, which requires a decline of more than 30 percent in ten years or three generations.^[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1360, 972 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Turkey Vulture Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1360, 972 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Turkey Vulture Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Map of the Everglades ecoregion as delineated by the WWF. Satellite image from NASA. The yellow line encloses two ecoregions, the Everglades and the South Florida rocklands. The South Florida rocklands ecoregion includes the Florida Keys and offshore islands and two patches within the Everglades. ... Under United States Code Title 16, Chapter 7, Subchapter II, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is the United States legislation implementing the convention between the U.S. and Great Britain (for Canada). ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Charles Sibley (August 7, 1917 - April 12, 1998) was an American ornithologist and molecular biologist. ... Charles Sibley (August 7, 1917 - April 12, 1998) was an American ornithologist and molecular biologist. ... Jon Edward Ahlquist specialized in molecular phylogenetics and ornithology, collaborating extensively with Charles Sibley, primarily at Yale University. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... John Kenneth Terres (17 December 1905, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - December 2006), was an American naturalist and author. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bibliography

• ffrench, F. Birds of Trinidad and Tobago. ISBN 0-7136-6759-1
• Stiles and Skutch. A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
• Kirk, D. A. and M. J. Mossman. 1998. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). In The Birds of North America, No. 339 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ...

External links

Wikispecies has information related to:

Turkey Vulture

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Cathartes aura