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Bird Identification

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Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura, Length: 26"

Look for:

The Turkey Vulture soars with its wings held slightly above horizontal (called a slight dihedral). From below, the Turkey Vulture (TV) shows two-tone wings—black in front, silver in back. The flight silhouette combines long wings and tail with a tiny head (hawks and eagles appear much larger headed in flight).

Listen for:

Normally silent, but will hiss and groan when danger approaches, especially near the nest.

Remember:

Turkey Vultures rock! When they fly, TVs rock or teeter back and forth, capturing every bit of rising air. So if you see a large raptor rocking in the sky, chances are it's a Turkey Vulture.

Wow!

One of the Turkey Vulture's defenses is to puke on an intruder. Trust me: You do not want to get vulture puke on your clothes—you cannot get the smell out!

This profile is an excerpt from The Young Birder's Guide by Bill Thompson, III. Purchase an autographed copy from our nature store, and check out other BWD titles designed to help you identify backyard birds.

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An Identification Guide to Common Backyard Birds

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