TURKEY VULTURE

 1372                TURKEY VULTURE                 Cathartes aura

USA                   22

The turkey vulture is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.

The turkey vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its food using its keen eyes and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the early stages of decay in dead animals. In flight, it uses thermals to move through the air, flapping its wings infrequently. It roosts in large community groups. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. It nests in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. Each year it generally raises two chicks, which it feeds by regurgitation. It has very few natural predators. In the United States, the vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

BLACK VULTURE

 1371                BLACK VULTURE                 Coragyps atratus

USA                  21

The black vulture, also known as the American black vulture, Mexican vulture, zopilote, urubu, or gallinazo, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. The black vulture (Coragyps atratus), also known as the American black vulture, Mexican vulture, zopilote, urubu, or gallinazo, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. 

HIMALAYAN VULTURE

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1013           HIMALAYAN  VULTURE               Gyps himalayensis

NEPAL                  81

Also known as himalayan Griffon. 115-125 cm. Breeds in mountains and Trans-Himalayan Tibetan steppe desert, especially along routes well used by pack animals; winters dow to plains. Widespread resident, subject to seasonal altitudinal movements, and partial migration.

LAPPET-FACED VULTURE

434         LAPPET-FACED VULTURE                Torgos tracheliotos

South Africa             (102)

Also known as Nubian Vulture. Ranges in patches throughout most of Africa, absent from much of central and western parts. Lives in dry savannah, thorn bush, arid plains, desert with scattered trees in wadis, open mountain slopes; usually found in undisturbed open country with a scattering of trees and minimal grass cover.

WHITE-BACKED VULTURE

Photographed at the 'Vulture Restaurant' at Mkhuze Game Reserve.

303        WHITE-BACKED VULTURE             Gyps africanus

South Africa             (26)

90-100 cm, wingspan 2.1-2.3 m; 4.6-6.6 kg. The most common vulture in savannah. Found in savannahs, open woodland, nesting and roosting on trees. Range all over northern part of southern Africa. 

Photographed at iMfolozi