The Turkey Vulture is the most common vulture in the Americas. Despite the similarity in name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Old World vultures of the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, hawks, kites and harriers.
This bird got its common name by the resemblance of the adult's bald red head (and possibly its dark plumage) to that of the male Wild Turkey.
While soaring, they hold their wings in a V-shape and often tip 'drunkenly' from side to side, frequently causing the gray flight feathers to appear silvery as they catch the light.
The Turkey Vulture is found in open and semi-open areas throughout the Americas from southern Canada to Cape Horn. It is a permanent resident in the southern United States but northern birds may migrate as far south as South America.
International Vulture Awareness Day is coming up this tomorrow, Saturday, September 6, 2025. We've celebrated vultures here on the Birdorable blog before, and we're continuing the tradition with a Vulture Week series leading up to the big day. We're going to share new posts and... Read more »
International Vulture Awareness Day is coming up this Saturday, September 6, 2025. We've celebrated vultures here on the Birdorable blog before, and we're continuing the tradition with a Vulture Week series leading up to the big day. We're going to share new posts and reiterate essential vulture... Read more »
Vultures and condors come with a host of quirky nicknames—some endearing, some downright odd. Exploring these names is like uncovering a mini time capsule of cultural, historical, and regional perspectives on these misunderstood birds. Ossifrage and Lammergeier The Bearded Vulture goes by a couple of striking names. The name... Read more »
International Vulture Awareness Day is coming up this Saturday, September 6, 2025. We've celebrated vultures here on the Birdorable blog before, and we're continuing the tradition with a Vulture Week series leading up to the big day. We're going to share new posts and reiterate... Read more »
