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.
Specs
Length | 65-70cm |
Weight | 1.5-4kg |
Wingspan | 185-200cm |
Common Names
German | Truthahngeier |
English | Turkey Vulture |
French | Urubu à tête rouge |
Spanish | Urubú de cabeza roja |
Taxonomy
Order | Cathartiformes |
Family | Cathartidae |
Species | Cathartes aura |
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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.
![Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) - Belvédère Outremont - 2019-07-14](https://simaecnet.imgix.net/photos/khm-20190714-1946-1563119185.jpg?w=235&h=235&fit=crop&auto=format,compress&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4&fp-y=0.5)
![Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) - Bromont - 2017-07-23](https://simaecnet.imgix.net/photos/khm-20170723-1709-1500815385.jpg?w=235&h=235&fit=crop&auto=format,compress&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.52&fp-y=0.5)
Where and When to Spot
This species stays in the Montreal area only in summer and can be seen flying looking for cadavers over any park.
Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Belvédère Outremont | x | x | - | - |
Jardin Botanique de Montréal | - | x | - | - |
Parc Angrignon | x | x | - | - |
Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
Parc de la Frayère | x | x | - | - |
Parc des Rapides | x | - | - | - |
Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | - | x | - | - |
Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.