turkey vulture

American  

noun

1. a blackish-brown vulture, Cathartes aura, from the southern U.S. to South America, having a bare, wrinkled, red head and neck.

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Etymology

Origin of turkey vulture

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Compare meaning

How does turkey-vulture compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vulture vs. turkey vulture

Example Sentences

By contrast, a New World vulture like the turkey vulture relies more on a truly amazing sense of smell to identify live prey in forests.

From Salon • May 11, 2025

The challenge I found is that, with its red-orange head and a patch of white feathers under otherwise black wings, a condor at 200 feet looks a lot like a turkey vulture at 100 feet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2022

We trekked through the tall dunes once again, passing a rabbit, a few deer and a turkey vulture as we go.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2022

An emaciated turkey vulture recently found on the Lake Tahoe shore couldn’t fly, likely because food isn’t as plentiful in burned areas, said Denise Upton, the animal care director at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2021

Then walks in front of Axel, past the old owl who isn’t calling out, past the turkey vulture eating from a steel tray, past the pair of kestrels resting in the sun.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers