Oraer Ira Leonid 



conirormes 



Vultures: family Cathartidae 



Turkey Vulture: 



Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied 



DESCRIPTION. "Whole head and upper part of neck naked, the skin corrugated and 

 sparingly bristled; nostrils large, elliptical; wings long, pointed, folding co or beyond 

 the short round tail. Adults: bead bare and crimson in life, bill white; lores and top 

 of head sometimes with wart-like papillae; neck and under parts dull black; upper 

 parts blackish glossed with green and purple, feathers broadly edged with grayish 

 brown, secondaries edged with gray; shafts of quills and tail feathers varying from 

 pale brown to yellowish white. Young: like adults, but bill and naked skin black- 

 ish, brownish margins to wing coverts less distinct [Plate 2.6]. Length: 2-6~3Z, 

 extent about 6 feet, wing 2.0-2.3, tail n-ix, bill i." (Bailey) Nest: None, eggs laid 

 in a cave, old stump, or hollow log. Eggs: Usually i, white to greenish white, or 

 buff, splotched and speckled with brown and gray. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: From southern British Columbia, central Alberta, Saskatch- 

 ewan, Manitoba, Minnesota, Michigan, Ontario, New York, and Connecticut 

 south to Gulf coast and northern Mexico. Winters from Connecticut, Ohio Valley, 

 Nebraska, and California. In Oregon: Common summer resident and breeding bird 

 throughout State except in highest parts of mountains. Arrives in March and 

 remains until late September. 



THE TURKEY VULTURE, or Turkey Buzzard, master of the airways, is a 

 familiar sight almost everywhere in Oregon as it sails and glides on 

 effortless pinions, taking advantage of every variation of wind and air 

 currents to sustain itself in the air. On still days it can be seen making 

 use of rising columns of air, swinging about in steadily mounting circles 

 until the desired altitude is reached and then gliding away like a dark 

 airplane. It can be distinguished from all other Raptores in the State by 

 its naked head and neck, uniform dark color, and the silvery lining of 

 its wings conspicuously displayed in flight. 



Townsend (1839) first listed it from territory that is now Oregon, and 

 Bendire (1877) found it breeding in Harney County. From April to 

 September, it is the most commonly seen bird of prey in the State, though 

 it may not be more abundant than some that do not so persistently adver- 

 tise their presence. Our earliest record is February 16, Coos County; our 

 latest, October 7, Polk County. Prill (iS^ib and iSc^a) stated that it 

 wintered in Linn County, but no other observers have reported it in 

 the winter. Eggs are laid from May to July in caves, old stumps, hollow 

 logs, and similar places. Jewett found a nest in Harney County, May n, 



