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Cathartes aura
a large bird 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. 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. The irises of the eyes are gray-brown; legs and feet are pink-skinned, although typically stained white. The eye has a single incomplete row of eyelashes on the upper lid and two rows on the lower lid.
The Turkey Vulture has a large range, with an estimated global occurrence of 28,000,000 km². It is the most abundant vulture in the Americas. Its global population is estimated to be 4,500,000 individuals. 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. The Turkey Vulture is widespread over open country, subtropical forests, shrublands, deserts, and foothills. It is also found in pastures, grasslands, and wetlands.It is most commonly found in relatively open areas which provide nearby woods for nesting and it generally avoids heavily forested areas.
Found this bird eating something in the road before my neighbors dog scared it away
thanks for the help...I'm thinking it was more likely a turkey vulture they sound more like what I've seen before :)
Could be a turkey vulture or a black vulture. I think the turkey vultures are more common in that area. Turkey Vultures typically have pale pink legs with red head (unless it is immature). Black Vultures have a wrinkled gray head and gray legs.
Spotted on Jul 4, 2012
Submitted on Jul 5, 2012
