I had to go to the little nearby town of Oakland, Tennessee on business yesterday. During the trip I saw a Black Vulture
(Coragyps atratus) soaring over the pine trees along the side of the highway. Turkey Vultures
(Catbartes aura) are much more common around Memphis, which is why I mention the Black Vulture here. Vultures, or buzzards are enormous birds, larger than the average house dog, jet black with seven foot wingspans. They are carnivores which predate on carrion; their beaks are shaped like a can-opener so they can tear open roadkill quickly.
Black Vulture
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These two buzzards are easy to differentiate when they are airborne. The "black" vulture has white or gray
fingers at the ends of its wings. The "turkey" has white or gray feathers all along the trailing edge of its entire wingspan. So, just catch your vulture in flight and let it totter to one side in the wind. Easy, easy.
Turkey Vulture
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Robert
photos courtesy of wikipedia
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