264 



TURKEY VULTURE 



Fig. 162.- 

 Powerful bill of Hawk. 



observe them walking along the streets or roosting 



on housetops. In 

 both west and south 

 they are one of the 

 commonest birds in 

 the sky and may be 

 recognized from be- 

 low by the black 

 body figure set in a 

 bordering of gray 

 wing. The wing tips 

 are separated like the teeth of a comb. The shad- 

 ows of the birds often cross your path as they cir- 

 cle silently around 



o "\ 



and around in the 

 sky with heads 

 turned down to 

 scan the earth for 

 carrion. On ac- 

 count of the char- 

 acter of the food 

 of the Buzzards, 

 their bills and feet 

 are modified from 

 the Hawk types. 

 The bill is less sharply pointed and powerful; 

 while the feet, instead of having curved talons, 

 have an elongated middle toe well adapted to 

 walking on the ground, or steadying the large 

 body as the bird stands on the carrion it is 

 devouring. 



Fig. 163. 

 Modified bill of Vulture. 



