Turkey vulture
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Cathartes aura
Bald birds
Feeding on decaying animals is messy, so vultures have few head feathers to keep clean.
Large nostrils
The turkey vulture has a good sense of smell.
Social sitting
Often 5 or 6 birds will roost on the same branch.
Habitat/Range
Rainforests to semi-arid areas throughout the Americas
Wild Diet
Carrion (dead animals), Young birds, and Insects
Predators
Great horned owls and Foxes
Reproduction
This species will nest on cliffs, in caves or even on the ground. Little effort is made to construct a nest. Both sexes incubate the one to 3 eggs laid.
Conservation
STABLE
Abundant; in many areas of Latin America they have adapted to the presence of humans by utilizing dumps and animal-processing disposal areas.
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