Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
This bird has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Bigelow, Arkansas
Apple Valley, California
Fremont, California
Kelseyville, California
Menifee, California
Redding, California
Santa Barbara, California
Seaside, California
Delta, Colorado
Stamford, Connecticut
Big Pine Key, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Mims, Florida
Okeechobee, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Trenton, Florida
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Monticello, Georgia
Snellville, Georgia
Lyndon, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Coatesville, Indiana
Des Moines, Iowa
Yale, Iowa
Topeka, Kansas
Hebron, Kentucky
Melbourne, Kentucky
Cambridge, Maryland
Clinton, Maryland
Halifax, Massachusetts
Beaverton, Michigan
Gulliver, Michigan
Paw Paw, Michigan
Traverse City, Michigan
Utica, Michigan
Golden, Mississippi
Marietta, Mississippi
Cole Camp, Missouri
Conway, Missouri
Salem, Missouri
Kalispell, Montana
Hudson, New Hampshire
Warner, New Hampshire
Beachwood, New Jersey
Wenonah, New Jersey
Medina, New York
Yonkers, New York
Cary, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Belfield, North Dakota
Bethel, Ohio
Hinckley, Ohio
Lebanon, Ohio
North Olmsted, Ohio
North Ridgeville, Ohio
Bend, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Mc Keesport, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Whitehall, Pennsylvania
Dickson, Tennessee
Elizabethton, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Geronimo, Texas
Houston, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Needville, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Marcos, Texas
Portsmouth, Virginia
Reva, Virginia
Walkerton, Virginia
Dallas, Wisconsin
show all
birdylee
They are a harbinger of spring here on the west slope of the Rocky Mtns. at about 5000 ft above sea level. We have a group of about 30 birds, although some split off for a while in the summer and then return. They used to roost in a dead tree about 30 or 40 feet away from my house on a little bluff but moved down the block to a live tree about 400 yards away. I do love to watch them ride the thermals between our neighborhood and the high mesa about 5 miles away.
They start hunting very early in the day but return about 5 pm to 7 pm in the evening. If it's not too windy, they fly the thermals along the bluff for fun, till sunset... read more
westwick
Vacula333
lisa48317
I was in awe with how big the wingspan was!
1moretree
A related fact, in the past several years throughout this general region I've been noticing black vultures (separate similar though slightly smaller species) becoming VERY abundant, where as I had never before seen them up here, only down south in regions like Florida. I've read that they can be aggressive towards Turkey Vultures (dri... read more
Mr_Monopoly
ignatz713
Unfortunately animals are no match for automobiles, and these carrion eaters keep the roads clean.
I salute them.
BTW, that 'ugly bald red head' has a very specific purpose, read up on these magnificent birds and all the other carrion birds of the world.
2QandLearn
When I looked back over my shoulder & up, I saw 3 to 5 BIG, DARK birds with UGLY BALD RED HEADS gliding effortlessly -&- otherwise soundlessly . . . out of each of the trees in a long row!
I had long been an occasional visitor to the area, and my family was in the process of moving here. . . . I hadn't realized that Turkey Vultures were around, until that Very Eery moment!
Now --about 40 years later-- I am happy to see a family of 3 to 5 on occasion. I think when I first s... read more
CAndersen
Chillybean
You might find it interesting that the Latin name for this bird means "purifying breeze".
audsrz
WineofLife
SnowlineRose
KyWoods
//vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html
antsinmypants