turkey vulture

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turkey vulture¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

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

Since the beginning of the outbreak, California officials have found the virus in wild birds such as rock pigeons, white-faced ibis, and turkey vultures, as well as wild mammals including mountain lions, raccoons and skunks.

From Los Angeles Times

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon

They also recognized acorn woodpeckers, a California towhee, dozens of turkey vultures circling overhead, a dark-eyed junco, a mockingbird, an Anna’s hummingbird and a black phoebe.

From Los Angeles Times

Storks and turkey vultures urinate on their legs to keep cool, for example, and kangaroos lick their veiny forearms to keep them moist.

From Science Magazine