Photo by BarrytheBirder
TURKEY VULTURE
(Cathartes aura)
I saw my first Turkey Vulture of the year this past Sunday, April 1st, in the hamlet of Temperanceville, in King Township. I can recall many years ago never seeing a Turkey Vulture in southern Ontario, and then a few years ago seeing them in southern Ontario in summer. Now they appear in early spring and remain until late fall. They are readily recognized up close by the large dark body, red head and white bill. At a distance they are recognized by their flight, as they rock from side to side, with their wings held upward in a shallow V. Their wing-beats are deep and slow, with minimal flapping.
The Ontario Field Ornithologists website reports that 12 Turkey Vultures were spotted in the Niagara-Queenston area on April 2nd, plus a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) on the same day.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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