North American Birds Eggs. 



153 



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325. Turkey Vulture; Turkey Buzzard. Cafhartrs aura. 



Ranee.— America, from New Jersey on the Atlantic coast, Manitoba and 

 British Cohimbia. south to southern South America, wintering in the southern 

 half of the rniteii States. 



The pkimage of this small 

 Buzzard (length 30 inches,) 



is blackish brown, the naked ^ 



head being red. It is very — * " 



common in the southern and 

 central j)ortions of its range, 

 where it frequents the streets 

 and door yards picking up 

 any refuse that is edible. It 

 is a very graceful bird while 

 on the wing, and can readily 

 be itientitied when at a dis- 

 tance from the fact that, when 

 in Hight, the tips of the wings 

 curve upward. The two eggs 

 which constitute a set are 

 laid upon the ground l)etween 

 large rocks, in hollow stumps, 

 under logs, or between the 

 branching trunks of large 

 trees, generally in large 

 woods. They frequently nest 



in communities and again, only a single pair may be found in the woods. Its 

 nesting season ranges from March until June in tlie different localities. The 

 eggs are creamy or bluish white, spotted and l)lotclied with shades of i)rown, 

 and with fainter markings of lavender. Size 2.70 x 1.85. Data.— 



♦^',^^ 



|( I'l'aiii.N- white] 



Photo by N. ^V. Swayiie. 

 NEST AND EGGS OF TURKEY VULTURE. 



