Turkey vulture

Turkey Vulture
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Order Information
Order	Cathartiformes
Family Information
Family	Cathartidae
Sub-family	Cathartinae
Genus Information
Genus	Cathartes
Species Information
Species	C. aura
Population statistics
Conservation status	Least concern

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), most abundant and widespread New World vulture.

Description

Turkey vultures are eagle-sized. They are 25-32 inches in length, with a wingspan up to 72 inches. The plumage is primarily blackish in color, with both primary and secondary flight feathers a paler color. The head, devoid of feathers, is red in color; it is this feature that gives the bird its name, after the wild turkey. Immature birds have a grey head.

Subspecies

• Cathartes aura aura; Mexico and the Greater Antilles to South America.
• Cathartes aura jota; Chile.
• Cathartes aura meridionalis; North America: southern Canada west of Great Lakes to British Columbia, south to Mexico (Baja California) and the southwestern United States. Migrates to South America.
• Cathartes aura ruficollis; Trindad; Panama to South America east of the Andes Mountains, south to Argentina.
• Cathartes aura septentrionalis; eastern North America: United States and Canada.

Habitat

Primarily attached to deciduous woodlands and forests, yet often seen over nearby farmland and suburban areas.