Black Vulture

I'm not so sure. I'm not an ornathologist but I have taken a look at some descriptions and images and am noticing a few things. The nostril on this bird are towards the base of the beak and very much a horizontal slit. Turkey vultures appear to have a taller, more flared nostril that sits more mid-beak and results in a real protrusion at the top of the beak .. what I would call a "roman nose" in people. The nostrils appear rounder overall. The beak on this bird is dark with a lightish tip. One of the descriptions I found (http://www.wingmasters.net/tvulture.htm) and many images online show a lighter beak with dark tip for juvenile turkey vultures. In fact, they seem to have proportionally shorter and taller beaks overall .. with that "hook nose" thing going on, even when very young (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0N0Gp2yPJtQ/So...). Add to this the fact that this was only one of dozens of vultures in the area and I didn't see one red head .. plus none of the birders I was around or any guides at that site in the ... four times I've been to that particular spot now .. has every said "turkey vulture." Now, that's not saying this isn't a juvie turkey. I understand they can flock together to some degree. I'm just saying I'm not entirely convinced .. feel free to take a run at convincing me, though.

EnvUnlimited is right. You can tell by the large nostril.

Nice bird,