While I see Turkey Vultures flying overhead almost daily, it is rare that I actually get a closeup view of them, and even more when they are feeding on carrion.

This was taken while I was hiking on a berm at a local wildlife refuge. I noticed several vultures apparently fighting over something, until one of them swooped away and landed in this nearby tree. Another vulture followed, but the others could not fit on the branches, so they flew away. The top vulture picked at its meal for a short time before it slipped from it's claws while the vulture was trying to get to the head. I have no idea what it was, but my guess it a large snake.

Age: 1st year
Species: Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Location: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Description

Size: 64-81 cm (25-32 in)
Wingspan: 170-178 cm (67-70 in)
Weight: 2000 g (70.6 ounces)

Other Names

Urubu � t�te rouge, Vautour (French)
Zopilote Aura, Aura cabecirroja (Spanish)

Fun Facts

* The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy.

* The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals.

* Like its stork relatives, the Turkey Vulture often defecates on its own legs, using the evaporation of the water in the feces to cool itself down.

* The turkey vulture is in the same family (Catharridae) as the California Condor (Federally endangered species) and the black vulture, which lives primarily in the south and southeast portions of the U.S.

* The turkey vulture’s scientific name is Cathartes aura which is Latin for "cleansing breeze".

* Like all other vultures, the turkey vulture has a bald head. This is so that bits of carrion (dead meat) do not adhere to the skin as they would to feathers.

* Turkey vultures have an extraordinary sense of smell. They have been known to be able to smell carrion from over a mile away which is very unique in the bird world. The turkey vulture has the largest olfactory (smelling) system of all birds.

* Groups of perched vultures are called a wake. Imagine them mourning over something with their heads hung down.

* Groups of vultures spiraling upward to gain altitude are called "kettles". As vultures catch thermal updrafts they take on the appearance of water boiling in a pot – hence the name kettle. Turkey vultures have been reported by aircraft pilots to rise to as high as 20,000 feet and soar for hours without flapping their wings.

* Turkey vultures can swoop up to 60 mph in order to avoid being "mobbed" by ravens or jays. They also have excellent eyesight and can spot dying or recently dead animals from high in the air.