Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Also known as:Turkey Buzzard

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

66-81 cm (26-32") Common and widespread. Open country, dumps, roadsides, woodlands. Large, dark, eagle-like scavenger.

Large, black, eagle-like bird. Head is tiny relative to body; red unfeathered head, pale bill, tail is narrow and fairly long extending beyond feet.

Immature: dark head and bill.

In flight; soars on long, broad, "fingered" wings held in a wide V; underside two-toned with silver-gray flight feathers; seldom flap rather tilt unsteadily from side to side.

Song: grunts, hisses.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Jim Bahn

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

TURKEY BUZZARDS FIGHTING OVER THE ROAD KILLED POSSUM

Credit: veggiepowered

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Turkey Vulture

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: In a shallow "V" · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:392-turkey-vulture:1:1 Source: 392 Turkey Vulture, row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 6

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:392-turkey-vulture:2:1 Source: 392 Turkey Vulture, row 2