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Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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About the Turkey Vulture
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts. Like all New World vultures, it is not closely related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, the two groups strongly resemble each other due to convergent evolution. The turkey vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its food using its keen eyes and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the early stages of decay in dead animals.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Cathartes aura
- Family
- New World Vultures
- Order
- Cathartiformes
Similar species
Other members of the new world vultures family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
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