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The Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Photo by MUSE
Published on Project Noah
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26.0758, -80.2841

Field Notes

Description:

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard (or just buzzard), and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow,[2] is the most widespread of the New World vultures.[3] One of three species in the genus Cathartes, in the family Cathartidae, the Turkey Vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.[1]

It, like all New World vultures, is not related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. It looks nearly identical because of convergent evolution, where natural selection similarly shapes unrelated animals adapting to the same conditions. -Wikipedia

Habitat:

Flamingo Garden Florida

Species ID Suggestions

Turkey vulture

Cathartes aura

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 7, 2013

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