NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



153 



325. Turkey Vulture; Turkey Buzzard. Cathartes aura. 



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

 British Columbia, south to southern South America, wintering in the southern 

 half of the United States. 



The plumage of this small 

 Buzzard (length 80 inches,) 



is blackish brown, the naked ^ 



head being red. It is very ^T iBfc^ 



common in the southern and 

 central portions 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 identified when at a dis- 

 tance from the fact that, when 

 in flight, the tips of the wings 

 curve upward. The two eggs 

 which constitute a set are 

 laid upon the ground between 

 large rocks, in hollow stumps, 

 under logs, or between the 

 branching trunks of large 



trees, generally in large [Creamy white. I 



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 the different localities. The 

 ggs are creamy or bluish white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown, 

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



Photo by N. W. Swayne. 

 NEST AND EGGS OF TURKEY VULTURE. 



