turkey vulture
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of turkey vulture
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
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
Like their slightly larger turkey vulture cousins, black vultures are native to Pennsylvania, and residents said they’ve always been seen in summer months, soaring high above the river.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2020
Aden swung out like a turkey vulture that goes in big, looping circles.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.