Birds · Cathartiformes · Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The turkey vulture is a species of Cathartiformes bird of the family Cathartidae. Its range extends from the far south of South America to southern Canada. It lives in a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forest, scrub, grassland and desert. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 170-183 cm, a length of 64-81 cm and a weight that can range between 0.85 and 2.26 kg. Its plumage is dark brown to black; the head and neck are unfeathered and purple-red. Its bill is short, hooked and ivory-coloured. It is classed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Weight
850 g – 2.2 kg
Size
62 cm – 81 cm
Life expectancy
