Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

I found this turkey vulture on my way home from work one afternoon in my neighborhood. It was in my neighbor’s yard eating something. I didn’t get to fully see what it was, but I am assuming that it was a squirrel, mouse or rabbit that was killed by their dog and left there. The vulture also could have brought it to the yard itself it found the dead animal in a busier area and wanted a quieter place to eat it or to get away from other animals trying to eat it.

Turkey vultures are a dark brownish to black in color with a dark pink to red coloring on the head and face of the vulture. Their necks are covered with feathers but share the same bald head as other vultures. Their beaks are short and curved with an ivory to yellowish coloring to them. As far as size, they are larger than black vultures with a wingspan from five to six feet and a body length of two to three feet. Their weight is similar to a black vulture however, weighing in at 1 to 5.3 lbs. At the end of their large wingspan, their feathers are separated into finger like ends, similar to that of a black vulture.

Turkey Vultures can be found pretty much all throughout North America but are less prominent as you move further North. They are not as commonly found in Canada, and if they are its only for breeding and they migrate south for the winter months. Turkey vultures are monogamous so they only mate with one other vulture their whole life and both the male and female are involved with incubating and raising their young. These large raptors feed off of newer animal carcasses and occasionally feed on insects, fish in dryer areas and rotting or decaying vegetables. They soar through the air at higher elevations to look for their food. However, sometimes, turkey vultures are able to find their food using smell. Something I found quite interesting is that Unlike other bird species, turkey vultures have a relatively good sense of smell.

Turkey vultures are protected in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals, respectively. In the US they are illegal to take, kill or harvest any parts of the body or eggs and can be a fine up to $100,000 with the possibility of jail time. They can be kept in captivity if they are injured or cannot return to the wild.

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/turkey-vulture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

Publicado el julio 30, 2020 04:56 MAÑANA por gfroerers