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Turkey Vulture For Bird Photography Weekly

Turkey Vulture photos by Larry Jordan

I went to the, as yet unoccupied, local community park here in Palo Cedro yesterday to check on my latest bluebird trail and found several Turkey Vultures just hanging around in the trees.  So I thought I’d get some photographs.

Notice the dihedral wing position and the distinctive under-wing pattern.  These are good clues to the ID of a Turkey Vulture however, from a distance, the easiest way to distinguish a TV from a hawk or eagle is the “wing tip.”  Turkey Vultures tip their wings back and forth when they fly and hawks and eagles don’t.

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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • bob k March 23, 2009, 8:50 am

    They may have a face that only their mothers can love but they sure are majestic fliers.

    Great photos, Larry!

    bob ks last blog post..Down the Hatch

  • chris March 23, 2009, 9:14 am

    The two last shots are amazing and not easy to do. I saw this guy in CHile and was impressed by its wing span.

    chriss last blog post..Small wild bird in Paris: Part I

  • Klaus March 23, 2009, 10:12 am

    Very nice catches, Larry. These are birds which are so under rated – but extremely gracious flyers.
    Cheers, Klaus

  • April March 23, 2009, 12:39 pm

    These are truly GREAT photos! The Turkey Vulture looks very handsome.

    Aprils last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly – American Robin and Common Redpoll

  • Kim (Kallen) March 23, 2009, 2:59 pm

    I LOVE Turkey Vultures. Yes their face takes a little getting use to but they fly like a dream.

    Excellent photos!

    Kim (Kallen)s last blog post..More Prey Pictures

  • Larry March 23, 2009, 9:50 pm

    @Bob thanks. They are amazing to watch in flight, especially in a colony

    @Chris thank you very much. You are right about their impressive six foot wingspan!

    @Klaus thank you. There is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time

    @April thank you. I think they are handsome birds also, and a huge positive force of nature!

    @Kim thank you, I love them too. I am really enjoying your raptor adventures as well

  • Thomas March 24, 2009, 3:25 am

    Fabulous series Larry and the first one is just spectacular.

    Thomass last blog post..Birding in India – Common Kestrel (Male)

  • MaineBirder March 24, 2009, 8:20 am

    A face only a mother could love… Excellent photos Larry!

    MaineBirders last blog post..BPW: Snowy Egrets

  • Larry March 24, 2009, 4:18 pm

    @Thomas thank you very much. Your Common Kestrel photos are gorgeous!

    @John I guess they’re not the most beautiful bird but they grow on you 😉

  • Natural Moments March 24, 2009, 11:53 pm

    You can see the love they have for the wind.

  • babooshka March 26, 2009, 3:59 pm

    Not pretty, but so elegant in flight.

    babooshkas last blog post..BLUE SKIES OR STORMY WEATHER? – SKYWATCH

  • wai yien March 27, 2009, 1:56 pm

    Did the vulture just perched or was taking flight?
    Nice shots

    wai yiens last blog post..Orange-Headed Thrush

  • Ryan Cowles April 24, 2010, 5:10 pm

    That last shot is beautiful! The underwing pattern is truly something to behold
    .-= Ryan Cowles´s last blog ..Turkey Vultures Over Provin Mountain – Agawam, MA =-.