Knopf, New York, NY, USA.Gulls, or seagulls as they’re widely known, are a very successful family of birds that includes some 54 species distributed over most of the world. The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD, USA. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966–2019. Avian Conservation Assessment Database, version 2020. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bird Banding Laboratory 2020. Longevity records of North American birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura), version 2.0. Far from it, vultures actually reduce the spread of disease. Other threats include trapping and killing due to erroneous fears that they spread disease. ![]() ![]() The animals eat the shot and eventually suffer lead poisoning. The main concern is lead shot that ends up in carcasses or gut piles left by hunters. However, because they live on rotting meat, like California Condors, they can fall victim to poisons or lead in dead animals. These birds were threatened by side-effects of the pesticide DDT, but today they are among the most common large carnivorous birds in North America. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 28 million and rates them 5 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of low conservation concern. Turkey Vultures increased in number across North America approximately 1.8% per year from 1966 to 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Despite their size, Turkey Vultures are often driven off by smaller Black Vultures, Crested Caracaras, Zone-tailed Hawks, and other species. At carcasses, several Turkey Vultures may gather but typically only one feeds at a time, chasing the others off and making them wait their turn. Migrating flocks can number in the thousands. ![]() When Turkey Vultures court, pairs perform a "follow flight" display where one bird leads the other through twisting, turning, and flapping flights for a minute or so, repeated over periods as long as 3 hours. Outside of the breeding season, Turkey Vultures form roosts of dozens to a hundred individuals. Often, especially in the morning, they can be seen standing erect, wings spread in the sun, presumably to warm up, cool off, or dry off. On the ground they move with ungainly hops and are less agile than Black Vultures. At other times they may soar high on thermals and form mixed flocks or kettles. The Turkey Vulture's distinctive slow, teetering flight style probably helps the bird soar at low altitudes, where it is best able to use its nose to find carrion. Nesting FactsĬreamy white tinged with gray, blue, or green, and spotted with purple to brown.ĭowny, often blind, and defenseless beyond a quiet hiss. Once found, many of these nest sites may be used repeatedly for a decade or more. They may scrape out a spot in the soil or leaf litter, pull aside obstacles, or arrange scraps of vegetation or rotting wood. While they often feed near humans, Turkey Vultures prefer to nest far away from civilization. These nest sites are typically much cooler (by 13☏ or more) than surroundings, and isolated from human traffic or disturbance. Turkey Vultures nest in rock crevices, caves, ledges, thickets, mammal burrows and hollow logs, fallen trees, abandoned hawk or heron nests, and abandoned buildings. Unlike their Black Vulture relatives, Turkey Vultures almost never attack living prey. Thankfully for them, vultures appear to have excellent immune systems, happily feasting on carcasses without contracting botulism, anthrax, cholera, or salmonella. ![]() They are deft foragers, targeting the softest bits first and are even known to leave aside the scent glands of dead skunks. They prefer freshly dead animals, but often have to wait for their meal to soften in order to pierce the skin. Mostly they eat mammals but are not above snacking on reptiles, other birds, amphibians, fish, and even invertebrates. Turkey Vultures eat carrion, which they find largely by their excellent sense of smell. At night, they roost in trees, on rocks, and other high secluded spots. They are particularly noticeable along roadsides and at landfills. Look for Turkey Vultures as they cruise open areas including mixed farmland, forest, and rangeland.
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