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Confirm ID (Turkey vulture?) - US, TX (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter erisian.pope
- Start date
erisian.pope
very amateur
Thanks, all!!
I hesitated to just assume, in case there was some bird I knew nothing about like a Kite or whatever that might be similar.
My list-of-birds-in-texas only list 2 vultures: turkey and black. Do we have other similar carrion-eaters (ie - buzzards or anything else)?
I hesitated to just assume, in case there was some bird I knew nothing about like a Kite or whatever that might be similar.
My list-of-birds-in-texas only list 2 vultures: turkey and black. Do we have other similar carrion-eaters (ie - buzzards or anything else)?
Yes, Turkey Vulture.
Since I know from your other post that you don't yet have a guidebook, here are some quick pointers on TVs vs. Black Vultures:
1) TVs usually fly in a wobbly "V", Blacks usually fly with wings at the horizontal.
2) TVs have red heads vs. Blacks black heads (although this is not true for young TVs) - this isn't very apparent in your photo, though).
3) All flight-feathers on the underwing are silvery on TVs, while on Blacks only the top primaries ("finger-tips") are silvery.
4) TVs have longer tails, Blacks' are stubby.
Black Vulture:
http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/images/black-vulture-brazil-feb-2007.jpg
http://patricklynch.net/florida-wildlife-2007/images/Black-Vulture-in-Flight-_MG_0423.jpg
http://www.anythinglime.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/black_vulture_small1.jpg
Blacks and TVs are the only species of vulture in the U.S. - crows'll always dig on roadkill, though! Other raptors are looking for live prey.
Since I know from your other post that you don't yet have a guidebook, here are some quick pointers on TVs vs. Black Vultures:
1) TVs usually fly in a wobbly "V", Blacks usually fly with wings at the horizontal.
2) TVs have red heads vs. Blacks black heads (although this is not true for young TVs) - this isn't very apparent in your photo, though).
3) All flight-feathers on the underwing are silvery on TVs, while on Blacks only the top primaries ("finger-tips") are silvery.
4) TVs have longer tails, Blacks' are stubby.
Black Vulture:
http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/images/black-vulture-brazil-feb-2007.jpg
http://patricklynch.net/florida-wildlife-2007/images/Black-Vulture-in-Flight-_MG_0423.jpg
http://www.anythinglime.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/black_vulture_small1.jpg
Blacks and TVs are the only species of vulture in the U.S. - crows'll always dig on roadkill, though! Other raptors are looking for live prey.
Last edited:
Dave B Smith
Well-known member
Of course in all those Turkey Vultures keep your eyes open for a Zone-tailed Hawk. Superficially very similar to TV.
erisian.pope
very amateur
Dave, thanks I will. It looks like those are probably rare in the Austin area, but will keep my eyes peeled!
Brookie
Well-known member
I'm late to the thread, but a caracara often dines on carrion. Your bird is a turkey vulture of course, but if you spend much time west and south of Austin you will want to be familiar with a caracara.