Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura)

The Turkey Vulture of Breeches and Sunday lakes are the champion non-stop gliders of our feathered world.

The cliffs of Sunday Lake are the perfect habitat to build and maintain their nests.  In the spring we have seen flocks of eight and more vultures hovering in silence over the Cross of Sunday Lake. Often they adventure into the larger Breeches Lake looking for food. They are so silent in their flight that oftentimes only the large passing shadow on a sunny day announces their flight.

It looks as big as an Eagle and it may circle over the same area for an hour without once flapping its wings.

Its length is around 80 cm from head to tail and the wing span  averages 1.80 m. for the adult bird. The head is smaller than that of the Eagle.

The forward half of the wing is the same blackish colour as the rest of the plumage but the rear half is a tan brown clearly distinguishable.

Vultures are generally looked upon as repulsive birds due to its custom of feeding on dead animals, garbage and other easy pray. This feeling is increased by the bare red skin of its upper neck and head, although in reality the Turkey Vulture is an excellent scavenger who manages to clean roads and country of  dead animals.