Turkey Vulture, also known as Turkey Buzzard

A large soaring bird with a red featherless head and dark plumage. In flight, it is identified by its 'V' shaped dihedral wing position and unsteady, rocking flight style. This feather represents the sturdy, dark flight gear that allows for hours of effortless thermalling.

Uniformly dark brownish-black to charcoal on the dorsal side; the underside of such feathers in this species typically shows a silvery-gray sheen which is characteristic of the species' underwing pattern.

Densely packed pennaceous barbs on the upper two-thirds; the bottom third transitions into soft, downy plumulaceous barbs near the superior umbilicus.

The surface is matte with a slightly coarse, stiff texture; it lacks the oily waterproofing of waterfowl feathers or the velvet softness of owl feathers.

Distinguished by the dark brownish-black coloration, the creamy-white thick rachis at the base, and the absence of any banding or spotting common in hawks.

Open and semi-open areas including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts; frequently seen soaring over roadsides and near rocky cliffs.

Extremely wide distribution ranging from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America; northern populations are migratory while southern ones are year-round residents.

Scavenger; they provide a vital ecological service by consuming carrion, which helps prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax and tuberculosis in the environment.

Black Vulture feathers (shorter, broader, and more truly black) and immature Bald Eagle feathers (which usually show some white mottling or a different rachis color).

Turkey Vultures have an extraordinary sense of smell, capable of detecting the gases produced by decaying carcasses from miles away. Unlike most birds, they lack a syrinx and can only hiss or grunt.

Good condition with some minor wear at the tip and edges of the vanes. The calamus is intact, suggesting it was naturally molted rather than pulled.