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Eastern Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura septentrionalis

Description:

Turkey Vultures are large dark birds with long, broad wings. Bigger than other raptors except eagles and condors, they have long "fingers" at their wingtips and long tails that extend past their toe tips in flight. Turkey Vultures appear black from a distance but up close are dark brown with a featherless red head and pale bill. While most of their body and forewing are dark, the undersides of the flight feathers (along the trailing edge and wingtips) are paler, giving a two-toned appearance.

Habitat:

Turkey Vultures are common around open areas such as roadsides, suburbs, farm fields, countryside, and food sources such as landfills, trash heaps, and construction sites. 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.

Notes:

Spotted this pair in a tree on a steep bank beside Cobb Pkwy/US-41 I think they may have a nest on a ledge there

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1 Comment

Mandy Hollman
Mandy Hollman 11 years ago

Thanks for all the great info. And thanks for including this in Southern Romance.

QWMom
Spotted by
QWMom

Georgia, USA

Spotted on Mar 18, 2013
Submitted on Mar 20, 2013

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