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;[[:Category:Cathartes|Cathartes]] aura | ;[[:Category:Cathartes|Cathartes]] aura | ||
| − | [[Image:Turkey_Vulture.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Vogelman.]] | + | [[Image:Turkey_Vulture.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Vogelman|Vogelman}} <br />Montgomery County, [[Texas]] December 2003.]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | *Large and | + | *Large and brown to blackish |
*Primaries spread during flight (resembling fingers) | *Primaries spread during flight (resembling fingers) | ||
*Flight feathers appear silvery below | *Flight feathers appear silvery below | ||
*Rocking flight with wings held in dihedral (v-shaped) | *Rocking flight with wings held in dihedral (v-shaped) | ||
| − | *Naked pink head | + | *Naked pink head (color differ among subspecies) |
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
*head: grayish in Black Vulture and red in Turkey (but juvenile Turkey with gray head). | *head: grayish in Black Vulture and red in Turkey (but juvenile Turkey with gray head). | ||
| − | *underwing: Turkey | + | *underwing: Turkey has silvery secondaries and primaries when seen from below, contrasting with the dark underwing coverts; Black Vulture has white primaries contrasting to both coverts and secondaries as seen from both above and below. |
*tail: longer in Turkey (make wings appear narrower). | *tail: longer in Turkey (make wings appear narrower). | ||
| + | *flight: Black Vulture holds wings nearly flat | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[North America|North]], [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. Breeds in the south of [[Canada]] from southern [[British Columbia]] to southern [[Ontario]], almost throughout the [[United States]] except the far northeast, in [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and the [[ | + | [[Image:Turkey_Vulture_flight_by_Nick_Richter.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by {{user|Nick_Richter|Nick Richter}} <br />Irvine, [[California]], June 2004.]] |
| − | A summer visitor to much of North American range but resident further south. Northern birds winter in the southern [[United States]] from central [[California]] to [[Florida]] and southwards. | + | [[North America|North]], [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. Breeds in the south of [[Canada]] from southern [[British Columbia]] to southern [[Ontario]], almost throughout the [[United States]] except the far northeast, in [[Mexico]], [[Central America]], part of the [[Bahamas]] and the [[Greater Antilles]] east to [[Puerto Rico]], and in [[South America]] from [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]] south to [[Tierra del Fuego]] and the [[Falkland Islands]] but rare or absent from much of eastern [[Argentina]]. Scarce in the far north but increasing and expanding range. |
| + | A summer visitor to much of North American range but resident further south. Northern birds winter in the southern [[United States]] from central [[California]] to [[Florida]] and southwards. Southernmost birds include some migratory populations. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Four subspecies recognised: | + | Four subspecies recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: |
#'''''aura''''' from [[Canada]] to [[Costa Rica]] and [[Cuba]] | #'''''aura''''' from [[Canada]] to [[Costa Rica]] and [[Cuba]] | ||
#'''''septentrionalis''''' in eastern [[North America]] | #'''''septentrionalis''''' in eastern [[North America]] | ||
#'''''ruficollis''''' in Trinidad and from [[Panama]] to northern [[Argentina]] | #'''''ruficollis''''' in Trinidad and from [[Panama]] to northern [[Argentina]] | ||
#'''''jota''''' from [[Colombia]] to Patagonia and the [[Falkland Islands]] | #'''''jota''''' from [[Colombia]] to Patagonia and the [[Falkland Islands]] | ||
| + | Some sources mention at least two more subspecies<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. There is also a suspicion that this species should be studied further because more than one species might be involved. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| Line 31: | Line 34: | ||
Voice: Hisses and grunts given at the nest | Voice: Hisses and grunts given at the nest | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | # Clements, James F. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World''. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019 | ||
| + | # Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3 | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Cathartes+aura}} | {{GSearch|Cathartes+aura}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cathartes]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cathartes]] | ||
Revision as of 02:03, 1 July 2009
- Cathartes aura
Identification
- Large and brown to blackish
- Primaries spread during flight (resembling fingers)
- Flight feathers appear silvery below
- Rocking flight with wings held in dihedral (v-shaped)
- Naked pink head (color differ among subspecies)
Similar Species
May be confused with Black Vulture. Separating features:
- head: grayish in Black Vulture and red in Turkey (but juvenile Turkey with gray head).
- underwing: Turkey has silvery secondaries and primaries when seen from below, contrasting with the dark underwing coverts; Black Vulture has white primaries contrasting to both coverts and secondaries as seen from both above and below.
- tail: longer in Turkey (make wings appear narrower).
- flight: Black Vulture holds wings nearly flat
Distribution
North, Central and South America. Breeds in the south of Canada from southern British Columbia to southern Ontario, almost throughout the United States except the far northeast, in Mexico, Central America, part of the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles east to Puerto Rico, and in South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands but rare or absent from much of eastern Argentina. Scarce in the far north but increasing and expanding range. A summer visitor to much of North American range but resident further south. Northern birds winter in the southern United States from central California to Florida and southwards. Southernmost birds include some migratory populations.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies recognised[1]:
- aura from Canada to Costa Rica and Cuba
- septentrionalis in eastern North America
- ruficollis in Trinidad and from Panama to northern Argentina
- jota from Colombia to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands
Some sources mention at least two more subspecies[2]. There is also a suspicion that this species should be studied further because more than one species might be involved.
Habitat
A wide range of habitats from deserts, plains and mountains to forest and jungle.
Behaviour
Often scavenges at refuse-tips and along roadsides and shorelines.
Voice: Hisses and grunts given at the nest
References
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
