Spot the difference.
Thanks to Kim for putting this diptych together.
The bird with pink on the right is a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). It is a common, almost abundant species along the Texas Gulf Coast plains. The bird on the left is a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) - not the same species as Black Vulture in the Old World. As you can see the head and neck are featherless with the skin being grey and wrinkled. Like Turkey Vulture, the Black Vulture is also reasonably frequent along the Gulf Coast.
The two species were actually photographed with a few yards of each other. Both are scavengers, cleaning up nature's carcasses.
Spot the difference.
Thanks to Kim for putting this diptych together.
The bird with pink on the right is a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). It is a common, almost abundant species along the Texas Gulf Coast plains. The bird on the left is a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) - not the same species as Black Vulture in the Old World. As you can see the head and neck are featherless with the skin being grey and wrinkled. Like Turkey Vulture, the Black Vulture is also reasonably frequent along the Gulf Coast.
The two species were actually photographed with a few yards of each other. Both are scavengers, cleaning up nature's carcasses.