Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Description: Large raptor-like bird. It has a wingspan of 6’ and hence its name, it has a featherless, turkey-like head. While flying its wings form a "V". It is black and silvery brown in color. Flight is not steady, bird rocks slightly as it soars.
Eggs: 2 whitish eggs that are heavily marked with brown.
Nest: No nest, eggs are laid in crevices, abandoned houses, and hollow trees or logs.
Diet: Carrion and garbage. Soars while locating carrion by scent, once found it descends to the food. Turkey vultures frequent road edges to feed on animal road mortalities. Also feeds in freshly mowed fields on dead rodents, snakes and frogs. It can smell rotting meat from long distances.
Habitat: A bird of open country, it is usually seen soaring high above fields and roadways looking for carrion. It will venture into forests to feed and is often seen in communal nighttime roosts during migration and non-breeding seasons. It often suns itself from a perch such as a dead tree or telephone pole. Groups can be seen on migration.
Eggs: 2 whitish eggs that are heavily marked with brown.
Nest: No nest, eggs are laid in crevices, abandoned houses, and hollow trees or logs.
Diet: Carrion and garbage. Soars while locating carrion by scent, once found it descends to the food. Turkey vultures frequent road edges to feed on animal road mortalities. Also feeds in freshly mowed fields on dead rodents, snakes and frogs. It can smell rotting meat from long distances.
Habitat: A bird of open country, it is usually seen soaring high above fields and roadways looking for carrion. It will venture into forests to feed and is often seen in communal nighttime roosts during migration and non-breeding seasons. It often suns itself from a perch such as a dead tree or telephone pole. Groups can be seen on migration.