Here are some more cool facts about Turkey Vultures.
• You can identify turkey vultures by these basic characteristics: They’re about 25 inches long and their wingspan is an average of 72 inches long (That’s six feet! And it’s almost three times the length of their body!). Turkey vultures have very large, broad wings and they soar. They have a long and rounded tail, a longish, hooked bill, and rather short legs. Their feathers are dark brown except for their paler flight feathers that are black and gray.

• They are known as turkey vultures because they have a small un-feathered head like the common turkey. The head is very small compared to the rest of the body.
• Adults and immature birds are a little bit different in their colors. Adult birds have a red head, yellowish bill, and reddish legs, but immature birds have gray head, bill, and legs.

• The scientific name for the turkey vulture is Cathartes aura (KATH-are-TEEZ OW-rah).

• Other names for the turkey vulture are buzzard, carrion crow, John Crow, red-necked buzzard, and turkey buzzard.

• Vultures are best known for eating dead animal carcasses (called carrion). This is an important function in nature because rotting carcasses can carry and spread diseases to other animals. Vultures are protected by a very advanced immune system. This means their bodies fight germs very well.
• While they eat decaying meat and dead animals, it seems that turkey vultures prefer fresh meat. They have been seen attacking young and small animals and some have even been seen eating fruits and vegetables like coconuts and pumpkins!

• Unlike most birds, vultures have a keen sense of smell. The turkey vulture’s olfactory sense (that’s its smelling system) is estimated to be even three times stronger than other types of vultures like the black vulture.

• There are six different types of turkey vultures all over the world in groups called subspecies. Three of these subspecies live in the United States and Mexico. They usually prefer open, rural areas, but can be seen in everything from deserts to prairies all across North America.

• Turkey vultures’ claws are very weak and the birds usually can’t carry much in them while they’re flying. If they do have to small amounts of food, they are able to carry it for short distances in their beaks.

• All animals use a process called thermoregulation to control their body temperatures. One way the turkey vulture does this is by spreading its wings. The wings act like heat exchangers and radiate body heat. Another way these birds keep cool is pretty gross, but it works. While the turkey vulture is roosting, they often excrete (that means “poop”) on their own legs. This helps pull out some of the heat and protect the legs from absorbing more heat. Ew!

Go to EEK! to Learn more About Tukey Vultures:
Turkey Vulture- www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/bird/turkeyvulture.htm