Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Accipitriformes
Family:Cathartidae
Genus:Cathartes
Species:aura
Binomial name
Cathartes aura

The Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura is an extremely graceful bird in flight. It seldom needs to flap its long wings once airborne, but soars high overhead looking for carcasses. One of nature's best rubbish disposals.

It is the commonest North American vulture.

Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Old World vultures in the family Accipitridae, which includes eagles, hawks, kitess and harrierss. The American species is a New World vulture in the family Cathartidae.

Turkey vulture is a summer migrant over much of its range.

The image is a public domain picture from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

see also