Zoology of the ZooPl. CXXXIX
Turkey vulture
Cathartes aura
Aves · Cathartiformes · Cathartidae
Fig. 1. Turkey vulture
Fig. 2. Range
| Length or height | About 62-81 cm long; wingspan about 1.6-1.8 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 0.8-2.3 kg |
| Food | Carrion, found by smell |
| Lifespan | About 16-20 years or more (est.) |
| Society | Roosts in groups |
| Habitat | grassland, forest, wetland |
| Range | North America, South America |
| Wild or tame | Wild |
One of very few birds with a keen sense of smell: it can detect ethyl mercaptan, a gas from rotting meat, under a forest canopy. Gas companies once noticed vultures circling leaks.
Observe: Watch the V-shaped wings and the wobbling glide; the head is bare and red in adults.