Fauna Flora Photography

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

A large bird, common around Montreal, and a scavenger feeding almost exclusively on carrion. Viewed against the sky, the bird appears black but in fact the bird is dark-brown and the bottom of the wings are light brown.

Taxonomy

Aves > Cathartiformes > Cathartidae

Names in different Languages

GermanTruthahngeier
EnglishTurkey Vulture
FrenchUrubu à tête rouge
SpanishUrubú de cabeza roja

How to Identify

If you are able to have a good look at the color and shape of its head, easy to identify. On distance, dark almost black, flying in circles, groups with others of the same species.

Where When to Spot

This species stays in the Montreal area only in summer and can be seen flying looking for cadavers over any park.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Belvédère Outremont 2 2 0 0
Bromont 0 1 0 0
Jardin Botanique de Montréal 0 1 0 0
Parc Angrignon 3 1 0 0
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies 1 0 0 0
Parc de la Frayère 1 2 0 0
Parc des Rapides 1 0 0 0
Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park 0 1 0 0
  8 8 0 0

Number of times a species has been observed, identified, and recorded. A species is reported only once per visit to a park.

Photos of Turkey Vulture


Last updated on 2023-01-21. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.