TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
The turkey vulture is one of the largest birds of prey in the USA, with a wingspan up to 1.8 metres. It is common throughout North America, Central and South America. It frequents open country, waste tips and roadsides, where it forages for food, especially carrion. Often, these birds soar for extended times on thermal uplifts, using a minimum of energy. The wings are held at a slight V-angle, which readily distinguishes these vultures from other soaring birds. The wing feathers are dark grey, in contrast to the black wing linings. This feature distinguishes the turkey vulture from the black vulture, which occurs locally in the southwestern deserts of the USA but which is much more common in southeastern USA.
In desert regions, turkey vultures often roost in large groups on suitable trees and partly spread their wings to warm them in the early morning sun before taking to the air. The three birds in the image above were the last three of about 50 that roosted overnight in this dead cottonwood tree, directly over the author's tent! [Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA]
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