Talk:Turkey vulture

Images
The image is a public domain picture from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

I believe the above is a California condor. Anyway, TVs don't have white underwings. So if anyone has a picture of a Turkey Vulture, the page needs one or two! (I'm trying to get one.) &mdash;JerryFriedman 19:22, 20 Aug 2004 (UTC)


 * Have no fear! I just took a great picture of one today.  They're some of the most skittish birds I've ever met... --    Phyzome is Tim McCormack 01:56, 2004 Dec 16 (UTC)


 * Terrific picture - never seen one that close. Around here they're easy to find, but generally at least a hundred feet overhead. ;) The flight picture will also be useful to people trying to identify one, since it gives a good impression of the dihedral wing stance and upward wing tips in flight. - toh 2005 July 3 16:41 (UTC)

I have uploaded an alternate "Wing drying" picture which may better illustrate this activity on the part of TVs. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A9048-20110226-TurkeyVulture.JPG

Mcvoorhis (talk) 15:45, 6 May 2012 (UTC)

No discussion for a month on my new TV Wing drying pic; I have replaced the existing pic with this new one. Mcvoorhis (talk) 15:06, 8 June 2012 (UTC)

Taxobox
I reverted recent taxobox edit. AOU is not the standard taxonomic classification outside N America, Wikipedia follows HBW

size? weight?
This article doesn't mention how big these birds are or how much they weigh, etc. There needs to be a better basic description of these birds methinks.

Coming home from work yesterday a vulture came out of a wooded area (road kill) and could not manuver fast enough to completey clear my truck. With only a slight thump it returned to the wooded area. The size of this bird blew my mind. I had never encountered a bird of that size. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Special:Contributions/ (talk)
 * While of respectable size, the impression of how big it was can be influenced by the fact that it was moving and the briefness of your encounter with it. Coming up on a dead mature turkey vulture may take some of the expectations one has and bring them down to earth, so to speak.  People often have an impression that bald eagles are much bigger when alive, but when mounted in a museum, a more realistic view is obtained. I've lived around both my whole life. 104.169.28.113 (talk) 08:15, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Excuse me, 104.169.28.113, this isn't a forum. Stop treating it like one. 65.175.250.233 (talk) 09:01, 24 November 2017 (UTC)

Moving North
The article is right in saying they are moving north, I live 50 miles south of the Canadian Border in Washington and they have moved in and become common in the last 5 years. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.110.221.182 (talk) 21:29, 1 May 2007 (UTC).

they are found as far north as thunder bay in ontario, canada. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.236.155.74 (talk) 23:29, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

I have them in my yard 50 miles north of San Francisco year-round (and have for at least the last 5 years). I think the range graphic might be out of date. Kevink707 (talk) 05:03, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Seen in large numbers in Montreal, Canada, in late April and early May, 2013, in the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.216.66.168 (talk) 15:05, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

The range map has them stopping well short of New Brunswick, Canada...but I can assure you that they are very common here in the warmer months, and have been so for more than ten years. Time for a new map, I'm thinking. Missinglincoln (talk) 00:56, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Might be a good idea - climate change and perhaps habitat may be allowing the birds to wander farther north for longer periods of time. These guys are tough, and resilient. As long as the snow on the ground is not excessive and they can find carrion, some chilly nights don't bug them, trust me. They will also land on the roofs of houses and hang out in pairs, triplets, even seven birds on occasion. Beat it, buzzards! 104.169.28.113 (talk) 08:19, 24 November 2017 (UTC)

Just want to point out that the distribution map is significantly off. They are quite common along the banks of the St-Lawrence River in Quebec City but I have seen a large number 10 years ago farther North at the "Parc du Bic" near Rimouski, right in the St-Lawrence Estuary where the water is near freezing year round. A better map should be drawn. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.134.139.10 (talk) 16:16, 13 April 2018 (UTC)

I notice that the article is locked so I guess that it is impossible to update the hopelessly out of date distributional map? Just to confirm that in Ottawa, Ontario where I live they are very common during the summer months and have been so for several years now. Where I live near the Central Experimental Farm and the nearby Rideau River in Ottawa I spot them daily. I just drove from Ottawa to SW New Brunswick today down the St. Lawrence River and then straight south along the Maine-New Brunswick border. I spotted groups wheeling over the highway through the whole trip. Then when I arrived at our cottage on Oromocto Lake in SW New Brunswick I was treated to 9 of them wheeling over my head as I soaked in the lake to revive myself from the 11 hour drive. They have been here in NB for several years now. Turkey Vultures now also over winter along the Bay of Fundy coast in New Brunswick. There must be a way to publish an updated map for this article. Tim Patterson, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.167.181.162 (talk) 01:04, 28 June 2021 (UTC)

Turkey Buzzard
Although Turkey Buzzard redirects to this page, nowhere is the more common term mentioned on the main page. Yes, it's a misnomer since buzzards are properly broad-winged hawks; still, the common name for these birds all across the US is "buzzard" or "turkey buzzard" and an encyclopedia entry should mention this. They really aren't vultures, either, or are no closer related to true vultures than they are to true buzzards so leaving out one name in favor of the other looks sloppy. Halfelven 22:41, 6 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't think it's the most common name - in the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, it's invariably Turkey Vulture or TV, and English speakers in the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America also appear to use the vulture version. And it is a vulture, just a different family to the Old World birds Jimfbleak 06:12, 7 August 2007 (UTC)
 * i have to say i think it's important to represent the state of affairs as it is, and not try to represent any particular viewpoint, especially on relatively arbitrary issues. yes, it's neither a true vulture nor a true buzzard. but depending upon where one lives and who one is raised by, either name could be confidently used to refer to this species (i myself was raised calling them "turkey buzzards", but now prefer to use "turkey vulture"). "common names" names are just that. - Metanoid (talk, email) 05:53, 27 October 2007 (UTC)
 * They ARE true vultures. They are New World Vultures, not Old World Vultures, and the two clades are not closely related - similar evolution is due to lifestyle, resulting in superficial appearance. I've never heard anyone refer to a hawk as "buzzard" - that reference may have died out in the U.S. long ago.104.169.28.113 (talk) 08:22, 24 November 2017 (UTC)


 * Surely the current version reflects the North American colloquial usage of Turkey Buzzard adequately? I don't think that the article suggests that it really is a buzzard, and it is a vulture, although the relationships with other families is in a state of flux. Jimfbleak 10:05, 27 October 2007 (UTC)


 * no, no, it's fine! just for the rec, i wasn't sure what the current state of affairs was and i might be back around in the near future, is all. :) - Metanoid (talk, email) 10:23, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Horaltic

 * Caption on one of the pictures says "horaltic" pose. Should this be perhaps "heraldic"?Cvjara (talk) 17:42, 11 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Hmm. Seems to me this was discussed somewhere when this article was being developed, and the term was found to be a bogus one.  Thought it had been removed, but looks like it hasn't!  I'll do so now.  MeegsC | Talk 22:22, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Life span
I stumbled on a website that said this bird lived to be 118. I've stumbled on many but they all seem to be quoting a bulletin made by : Forest Preserve District of Cook County presents examples of extreme old age in a nature bulletin (No. 486-A, dated March 24, 1973).

http://www.wonderquest.com/LifeSpan-MaxMin.htm

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/400-499/nb486.htm

I have only found this 118 year claim on searches for Turkey Buzzard and not for Turkey Vulture. Any ideas if there is any validity to this claim? If so it would be an interesting point to include in the article. I really don't want to add the info myself unless someone confirms this because I honestly have no idea.

Fa1512 (talk) 13:00, 3 June 2008 (UTC)


 * There is no reliable primary source, and certainly the longest life spans defy belief. The BTO, which is a reliable sources, give 28 years as the maximum for a Mute Swan jimfbleak (talk) 17:58, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Life span--more
I don't know about 118 years, but at the raptor rehabilitation center I volunteer at, we have a turkey vulture that came in from the wild in 1988 (as an adult) and is still quite well, contrary to the described life span in captivity in the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.97.217.4 (talk) 17:45, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Soaring habbits
These have become more common in the North East U.S. and can be seen soaring over highways in the Boston area. I have seen them on the ground eating road kill, and they're bigger than every bird in this area except the recently re-introduced Bald Eagle. They look just like hawks (with squared wing tips) except they fly in groups.

This is a simple distinction, while sometimes two hunting raptors can be seen flying together, the vultures often soar in small groups. I have also flown with them when hang gliding, three made a formation in front and three behind as we soared across the ridge. They're not skittish in the air :-) A hawk I approached during that same flight saw me, folded up it's wings, and dropped away !

The main Vulture page mentions 'kettle', and gives an example of large numbers of hawks flying together before migrating. This is news to me. Can this go in the [behavior] section ?

Thanks, - Lyle —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.62.10.11 (talk) 20:32, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

request elaboration on flight habits
is it normal for these birds to circle potential meals, ive seen groups circle overhead far off, this is normal right? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Murakumo-Elite (talk • contribs) 08:00, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

I was surprised there was no mention of this bird's characteristic and commonly seen wheeling high in the air in groups around carrion on the ground, letting fellow vultures know to join in the feast - interesting to me that this is an unselfish bird, refusing to swoop down and devour the food alone, instead advertising and sharing the food with his comrades - this behavior is not discussed in the current article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.204.248.85 (talk) 14:13, 13 January 2011 (UTC)

Thank you for your suggestion. When you believe an article needs improvement, please feel free to make those changes. Wikipedia is a wiki, so anyone can edit almost any article by simply following the  link at the top. The Wikipedia community encourages you to be bold in updating pages. Don't worry too much about making honest mistakes—they're likely to be found and corrected quickly. If you're not sure how editing works, check out how to edit a page, or use the sandbox to try out your editing skills. New contributors are always welcome. You don't even need to log in (although there are many reasons why you might want to). Walter Siegmund (talk) 05:19, 16 January 2011 (UTC)

I was observing this vulture eating road kill while it was being attacked by Tyrant flycatchers, blackbirds or sparrows (I didn't pay much attention to the attacking bird). It took flight at times, with the little bird swooping from above, hitting the back of the vulture with it's legs, probably trying to protect it's nest. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.103.223.51 (talk) 13:27, 5 June 2012 (UTC)

Sense of Smell
Requesting references for all dubious statements regarding sense of smell. It is a well known scientific fact that all birds lost the sense of smell at an early ancestral stage before extant species developed, even missing cranial nerve zero. Size of a brain lobe does not necessarily indicate strength of function, and Irene Pepperberg has demonstrated that, in fact, birds use different brain structures for functions that differ from mammals. Therefore, it is QUITE counter intuitive, contrary to popular belief, that ANY bird would have a sense of smell.Jkhamlin (talk) 15:45, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
 * I'll go digging for the refs later today, but deals with the ability to smell in Yellow-headed Vultures. Rufous-crowned Sparrow (talk) 18:51, 8 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Incorrect! Turkey vultures, kiwis, and a couple of other species all have good senses of smell. Early on, birds inherited a great sense of smell from their non-avian dino ancestors - some birds retained this.  Many RS's are available if needed. 104.169.28.113 (talk) 09:08, 24 November 2017 (UTC)

DIET-Predation of live animals
I have been observing Turkey Vultures on and near my property in Morris County NJ for 20 years. I have personally observed Turkey buzzards killing live prey 3 times. In the first instance, a Vulture dove on a Robin on the ground, killed it and devored it in less than a minute. The second instance was similar except the Vulture killed a gray squirrel. He devored most of it on the ground. He did NOT fly off with it like a hawk would. The third instance involved a very large flock of blackbirds. The Vulture landed in my tree while the large swarm of blackbirds was accross the street about 200 yards away. He waited for the flock to land on my lawn and after a few minutes he dove off the limb directly to the lawn killing and devoring a blackbird. In my opinion, Turkey Vultures do hunt and kill live prey much more often than what is stated in the article.

Rjs324 (talk) 13:30, 12 October 2011 (UTC)


 * Comment: I highly doubt this. Turkey vulture are relatively clumsy fliers that lack the speed and agility to catch live prey. Their feet are flat and non-raptorial, lacking the gripping ability and strength needed to capture live prey. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.59.176.87 (talk) 18:45, 14 April 2013 (UTC)
 * A turkey vulture downing a skwarl boggles the mind. Are you sure what you saw was a buzzard? There are predatory black birds of respectable sizes but not as big as a turkey vulture which will take down a squirrel - see swallow-tailed kite. Squirrels are "all muscle" and put up a fight when caught by hawks - until those 1, 2 pokes with that sharp, killing beak - then Sammy Skwarl goes nite-nite.  Buzzards don't have the sharp clawed talons and beak for such activity. 104.169.28.113 (talk) 08:33, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Need I remind you that the talk page isn't a forum? I suggest you refer yourself to WP:FORUM. 65.175.250.233 (talk) 09:07, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * No, you don't as I am a strong enforcer of WP:FORUM - this is a discussion on point about a statement in the article about the turkey vulture NOT being a predator. Big difference.104.169.28.113 (talk) 09:09, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Funny, you seem fine with treating Wikipedia like a forum whenever it strikes your fancy. 65.175.250.233 (talk) 09:12, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Nope, never have, never will, you are trolling, and wasting space here. Surely there are other things for you to occupy your time in New Hampshire. Cheers! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 104.169.28.113 (talk) 09:15, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * I found 4 examples skimming your brief edit history, two on this very page. If there is one thing in this world I can't stand it's hypocrites. I'm actually in Maine by the way ;). I'm positive making passive aggressive comments about other users' I.P. addresses is against the rules also... Perhaps I should report this exchange? 65.175.250.233 (talk) 09:24, 24 November 2017 (UTC)
 * This discussion needs to end. Personal observation are useless in articles. If there is a citation that supports live predation then add it to the article. Dger (talk) 03:21, 26 November 2017 (UTC)

Why is Vulture Capitalized?
Surely this should be "Turkey vulture". It is not, in any sense I can think of, a proper noun. Someone needs to swap the names of this article, "Turkey Vulture", and the "Turkey vulture" redirect. --Kaz (talk) 15:28, 9 March 2012 (UTC)


 * It is a convention that bird names are capitalized (unlike mammals). Dger (talk) 22:31, 6 May 2012 (UTC)


 * Then, why is it not capitalized on the text? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.43.244.29 (talk) 20:21, 21 June 2013 (UTC)

Range map
The range map suggests that the birds are only in north central North America, the yellow area, in summer; and only present from the So. USA to Tierra del Fuego in winter. This does not match the article text, and suggests that there is nowhere that the birds live all year round. - Smerdis of Tlön - killing the human spirit since 2003! 01:25, 26 December 2014 (UTC)

Audio version
Between the recording of the audio version currently linked to from the bottom of this article, and today, has changed. Should we now delete that outdated link? Andy Mabbett ( Pigsonthewing ); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 09:28, 26 December 2014 (UTC)

new photo
I'd like to suggest the inclusion of this photo. Regards, OTAVIO1981 (talk) 20:57, 30 May 2016 (UTC)

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External links modified
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size?
did someone copy paste the sizes of the bird from a smaller species? they can't seriously be suggesting its wingspan is just above 0.5 cm, can they? 82.68.21.120 (talk) 18:22, 14 November 2021 (UTC)


 * Good catch, It was vandalism and I've reverted it now. Thanks,   Draco  phyllum  01:05, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Featured picture scheduled for POTD
Hello! This is to let editors know that File:Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) in flight.JPG, a featured picture used in this article, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for January 2, 2022. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2022-01-02. For the greater benefit of readers, any potential improvements or maintenance that could benefit the quality of this article should be done before its scheduled appearance on the Main Page. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you! Cwmhiraeth (talk) 20:26, 27 December 2021 (UTC)

FA notes
Looking over this older featured article as part of WP:URFA/2020A, and have a few concerns
 * Some of the book sources are missing page numbers, which is a minor verifiability issue
 * "Both are basal members of the clade Afroaves," - source does not mention Old World Vultures
 * "n flight, the tail is long and slim. The black vulture is relatively shorter-tailed and shorter-winged, which makes it appear rather smaller in flight than the turkey vulture, although the body masses of the two species are roughly the same. The nostrils are not divided by a septum, but rather are perforate; from the side one can see through the beak" - unclear what the first part is source to; the source (Concise Oxford Dictionary) only covers the sentence about the perforate nostrils
 * "As of 2022, there is one captive bird over 48 years old" - a significantly stronger claim that the source makes, as the source only quotes somehow saying that he's probably one of the oldest in the US, while our article makes this claim as if he's a certainty as the oldest
 * " with an estimated global occurrence of 28,000,000 km2 (11,000,000 sq mi)" - this specific claim does not seem to be in the source (at least not anymore)
 * "This bird with its crow-like aspect gave foot to the naming of the Quebrada de los Cuervos (Crows Ravine) in Uruguay, where they dwell together with the lesser yellow-headed vulture and the black vulture" - stuck in at the end of the distribution section, but it doesn't seem to have any strong connection with the rest of that material
 * Close paraphrasing - article has feed on fish or insects that have become stranded in shallow water, source has
 * What makes "QandA". Vulturesociety.homestead.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-08-13. a high-quality RS?

Hopefully these can be addressed, but if not, featured article review may be necessary. Hog Farm Talk 03:47, 15 July 2023 (UTC)