The large turkey vulture can be easily confused with the bald eagle. Adults are 24 to 28 inches tall with a wingspan between 63 and 71 inches.
They live primarily in open country, woodlands and near farms. Their primary diet is made up of carrion. There are isolated cases of turkey vultures catching live fish or attacking live animals that are sick or incapacitated.
Turkey vultures are extremely common but can be distinguished easily from other raptors with its distinct flying behavior. In flight, it has long wings and glides with its wings held in a shallow V-shape.
Adult turkey vultures have a featherless red head with whitish warts in front of and below the eyes. Their reddish-neck is wrinkled and the beak is whitish in color. The entire body is brownish or gray-black and the underwing is two-toned silver and black.
Juvenile turkey vultures have a darker head and bill and paler feet than the adult. The eggs are incubated by both parents and takes about 40 days. The young leave the nest at about 11 weeks after hatching. Turkey vultures are named for their resemblance (red head) to the turkey. "Vulture" comes from the Latin word that means tearer, in reference to its manner of eating. | | |
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