Not considered a beautiful bird, the common Turkey Vulture is a scavenger. It is also is an important part of the Deer Creek ecosystem. They do the dirty work of picking clean the dead.
The Turkey Vulture’s Latin name, Cathartes aura, means ‘breeze purifier.’ Its common name, ‘turkey’ is for the bird’s resemblance to the wild turkey. Vulture means ‘tearer.’ In flight, a group of vultures is a ‘kettle,’ and when feeding together, they are called a ‘wake.’
Turkey vultures inhabit both American continents. In the warmer climates, they remain throughout the year. In colder areas, they are migratory.
Diet
Vulture food consists of freshly dead animals of about their own size or smaller. A unique adaptation is an acute sense of smell that can locate carcasses up to eight miles away.
Behavior
Social animals related to hawks and eagles, they eat, soar, mate, and roost in groups, heading off alone when searching for a meal.
With large wingspans and bodies, they wait for warm thermals before taking to the air. This economizes wing flapping.
Predators
Full grown Turkey Vultures have few predators. In junior states of life they can fall prey to raccoons, opossums, red-tailed hawks, eagles, and great horned owls.
Reproduction
Breeding season in our climate can last from March through August. Both males and females care for young, regurgitating food for the chicks for about two-and-a-half months.
Other Turkey Vulture Adaptations
- lowering body temperature at night – becoming slightly hypothermic
- horaltic pose for warming, appearing larger to threats, and UV sterilization of feathers
- no voicebox (syrinx) – communicates with hissing and grunts
- noxious smelling barf – repels threats
- urohydrosis – noxious smelling pee – repels threats, cools legs, kills bacteria from walking on dead animals
- bald heads – cleanliness after burying face in a carcass
- boney shield covering nose
- ability to clear nostril when it becomes clogged
Cellphone video & stills of Turkey Vultures off Newtown Rd. May & June 2018.
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For a short, humorous, Turkey Vulture text love story, click here.
Resources:
Internet Bird Collection – Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Peregrine Fund – Turkey Vulture
Wikipedia – Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Wildlife Center – vulture facts
