Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura

When I was growing up the Turkey Vulture – or 'buzzard' as it was colloquially called  – was the only large carrion bird in our local area.  But in the last fifteen to twenty years or so the Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus, has moved farther north from its southern range of the east coast to become the dominant group of the vulture family here rather than the occasional straggler – due I think to the accompanying global warming that is affecting the whole world.  

The Turkey Vulture is easily distinguished by its’ red head when one is close enough to see it (as in this photo taken on McKinney Town Road).  In flight the Turkey Vulture is somewhat larger with long – about six feet – somewhat narrow wings that enable it to soar seemingly effortlessly for hours on end. The Black Vulture has shorter, stubbier wing so that even though it soars a lot it still has to flap its’ wings much more often.  Also the Black Vulture gathers in larger groups than the Turkey Vulture, often soaring in high tight circles above some carcass down below.  

These birds of carrion serve a vital purpose quickly clearing decomposing carcasses that would otherwise linger for ever – think about the deer that are constantly struck by vehicles along the rural and urban highways.