Turkey Vulture

Biome: Big Sky Country

Classification: Birds

Biography: Lacking the strong grasping talons needed for killing live prey, turkey vultures eat carrion, the flesh of dead animals. Vultures spend hours soaring over the countryside, with their long wings held in a shallow "V" while tilting from side to side. Excellent eyesight and a well-developed sense of smell are used to locate carcasses on the ground. Despite an unseemly diet, these scavengers are remarkably hygienic in design. Their trademark bare heads and necks are easier than feathers to keep clean after a meal. In the morning, vultures bask in the sun with outstretched wings. The black color of their feathers absorbs sunlight, warming their bodies and killing bacteria. Turkey vultures are normally silent, but will hiss and grunt if disturbed. When threatened, they also regurgitate recently eaten food to help drive off the intruder while reducing their weight for a speedy takeoff.

Turkey vultures are commonly found throughout most of the United States, Central and South America. Their range has recently expanded northward into southern Canada. Favored breeding habitat includes remote areas inaccessible to predators, and eggs are often laid in cave entrances, hollow logs or on steep cliffs.

Category:

Pets & Animals

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[TuesdayMorningInSept]

Excellent

[cullotte3]

@1843Sears oh god! thats horrible!

[GorgonBull35]

My dad and I were driving home from my grandparents when one of these flew right in front of our car.

[1843Sears]

I need a turkey vulture to clean up mourning dove carcus in my backyard. A red tailed hawk ripped his head off and he's ready to be decomposed!

[revjagow]

My 2nd grader has been asking about the Turkey vultures around our house. Thanks for the informative clip!