The Turkey Vulture is a medium-sized
vulture with a wide distribution across
the Americas. It is the most common
new world vulture with an estimated
total population of 4,500,000. It's
plumage is dark brown to black with a
featherless, purplish-red head and neck,
and a short, hooked, ivory-colored beak.
The Turkey Vulture received its common
name from the resemblance of the adult's
bald red head & dark plumage to that of
the Wild Turkey. It is gregarious and
roosts in large community groups,
breaking away to forage independently
during the day. Several hundred vultures
may roost together in groups which
sometimes include Black Vultures. They
feed on carrion and are one of the few
birds of prey with a sense of smell,
enabling it to locate food under forest
canopy or otherwise hidden from view.
Turkey Vultures nest in a protected
location such as a cliff, a cave, a burrow
or inside a hollow tree. 1 or 2 eggs are
laid in a scrape and incubated for
between 30 - 40 days.
