Turkey Vultures are, in my opinion the most highly developed of the New World Vultures, with an exceedingly sensitive sense of smell. They are ‘first on the scene’ at carcasses, even in the rainforest. Many other scavengers watch the Turkey Vulture so that they too can swarm in on the gruesome bounty. Our pair of Turkey Vultures were both hand reared, which sadly may preclude them from breeding together. Baldric & Farnham have both been trained for displays. However, as they seem a delightful pair, we decided to ‘give them a go’. At first they pointedly ignored one another, then they fought and now they often sit happily together!
Scientific Name:
Cathartes aura
Status:
Least concern
Size:
Up to 1800mm wingspan
Weight:
900g to 2000g
Life Span in Wild:
16yrs
Habitat:
Tropical rainforests and scrubland
Diet:
Scavenger
