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Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
33.1532, -97.0189
Field Notes
Description:
Medium vulture, mostly black with red, featherless head and upper neck. Wings are held in a shallow V in flight. One of the few birds of prey that is able to use its sense of smell to find food. They are attracted to the smell of mercaptan, a gas produced by the beginnings of decay.
Habitat:
Lake Lewisville
Notes:
Turkey vultures are related to the stork, not to birds of prey. They can travel up to 322 kilometers (200 miles) in a day. Lacking strength in their tiny grasping claw, turkey vultures are the only scavenger birds that can't kill their prey. They have an extremely acute sense of smell that helps them detect food. The turkey vulture's digestive system has the unique ability to kill any virus and bacteria in the food the bird eats. If cornered by a human or animal that is perceived as threatening, the turkey vulture may roll over and play dead, or project offensive smelling vomit as a defense.
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