Gary Helm
"Turkey Or Vulture"
The Turkey Vulture is recognized as one of North America’s largest birds of prey and one of the most common vultures in America.
There are two families of vultures, old world vultures; part of the Accepitridae family that includes Eagles, Kites Buzzards and Hawks, and new world vultures, part of the family Catharitdae that includes the Turkey Vulture, the
Black vulture, the California Condor, the Andean Condor, the King vulture and Storks.
There are substantial differences between old world vultures and new world vultures.
The Turkey Vulture is a gentle and non aggressive bird that is often seen standing with its wings spread in a “horaltic pose” usually drying its wings, warming its body or baking off bacteria.
Like Storks, the Turkey Vulture defecates on its own legs using evaporation of the water in the feces and urine to cool itself down. They excrete a high concentration of uric acid that acts as a sanitizer that kills any bacterial it picks up while getting its food.
The Turkey Vulture gets its name because of its red bald head that resembles the male wild Turkey. The female is slightly larger than the male.
This one was at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, Florida, patiently waiting for me to go about my business so it could consume the long dead fish that lay just a few feet from where it was perched.
"Turkey Or Vulture"
The Turkey Vulture is recognized as one of North America’s largest birds of prey and one of the most common vultures in America.
There are two families of vultures, old world vultures; part of the Accepitridae family that includes Eagles, Kites Buzzards and Hawks, and new world vultures, part of the family Catharitdae that includes the Turkey Vulture, the
Black vulture, the California Condor, the Andean Condor, the King vulture and Storks.
There are substantial differences between old world vultures and new world vultures.
The Turkey Vulture is a gentle and non aggressive bird that is often seen standing with its wings spread in a “horaltic pose” usually drying its wings, warming its body or baking off bacteria.
Like Storks, the Turkey Vulture defecates on its own legs using evaporation of the water in the feces and urine to cool itself down. They excrete a high concentration of uric acid that acts as a sanitizer that kills any bacterial it picks up while getting its food.
The Turkey Vulture gets its name because of its red bald head that resembles the male wild Turkey. The female is slightly larger than the male.
This one was at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, Florida, patiently waiting for me to go about my business so it could consume the long dead fish that lay just a few feet from where it was perched.