When you see a Turkey Vulture up close and far away, you’ll have much different opinions of them.
Up close, you may not think of them as exactly beautiful. However, their bald face is more likely to stay clean after eating dead animals. Their scientific name, Cathartes aura, means ‘golden purifier’ or ‘purifying breeze.’
You will also see their dark brown feather’s iridescent color if you observe them up close.
From a little farther away, their distinctive profile stands out. The lack of feathers on their head makes it look smaller. When they’re flying, this is even more obvious.
You often see more than one Turkey Vulture at a time since they’re attracted to prey by smell. Compared to other birds, the part of their brain responsible for detecting smells, is much larger.
This bird that’s considered to be ugly up close, is incredibly graceful in flight. They glide on their six-foot wingspan in a distinctive teeter totter flight pattern. I often have the pleasure of seeing Turkey Vultures drifting by in the skies right outside my window.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – In the details
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My favorite sight.. large birds sitting on fence posts. Great shots.
Thanks! Yes, I like seeing them so close too, Judy.
Fascinating and well done. Informative too!
Thank you, John!
How interesting – I never realised that the bare heads of vultures are linked to their feeding habits! But I agree they look much more attractive in flight than close-up 😀
Yeah, it makes sense based on what they eat. They are beautiful in flight.
Not the most picturesque of birds – but ones that are essential for keeping the landscape clean of dead animals.
Yeah, they’re not pretty, but they do their job well. 🙂
Great photos of a wonderful bird
Thanks, Brian! 😀
Very impressive. And I learned a lot
Thanks, Ritva! Glad you learned some new facts about these birds. 🙂
Beautiful shots of this wonderful bird. They are so necessary to our ecosystem.
Thanks! I’m sure you probably see them often where you live.
Ah that face! I was so startled when I saw one for the first time, but your explanation makes a lot of sense from an evolutionary standpoint. I’m so glad you joined us Siobhan.
Thanks, Patti! Their faces may not be pretty, but they are practical. 🙂
Yes!
Interesting subject and approach, Siobhan. I liked your photos.
Thank you, Egidio! They are an interesting kind of bird.
A wonderful choice for the week Siobhan. We have many near us here and I’ll admit they are not the prettiest of birds but they are indeed massive and quite distinctive. When we visited New Zealand they told us they do not have vultures and it creates a major problem for them as there is no creature to clean up the many animals hit by cars on their island. Who knew?!
Thanks, Tina! Garbage collectors are an important part of the environment. I didn’t realize they didn’t have any in New Zealand.
Wonderfully apt descriptions of the turkey vulture and your photos illustrate their special beauty very well!
Thanks! They are unique and beautiful in their own special way.
I agree!
Interesting birds – thank you for the facts and great shots! We don’t have them here, but often see them on traveling. Their flight is beautiful to follow when they swirl in gorges or mountains, but I do think they are not as ugly as people say either.
Thanks, Ann-Christine! I love watching them in flight as well. As to their looks… beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂
What a sight! Excellent photos.
Thanks, Sofia!
I am always amazed at how big they are up close…between you and me I prefer a more distant viewing ha.
Yeah, they are enormous! My ornithology teacher had one, so we got to see it up close regularly. Not beautiful, but very efficient at their job.