64 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



brown. Quill shafts from light brown to yellowish white. Bill dull white. 

 Iris grayish brown. Immature: Similar, but head dusky and covered with 

 more or less furry down. Dowriy young: Cottony white, except the 

 naked head. 



Length 26-32 inches; extent 72; wing 20-23; tail 11-12; bill (culmen) 

 i; tarsus 2.23-2.30; middle toe 2.50 



Distribution. The Turkey vulture, or Turkey buzzard as it is usually 



called in the Southern States, inhabits 

 tropical and temperate America from 

 Patagonia to New York, Saskatchewan 

 and British Columbia. In our State it 

 seems to occur only as a summer visitor, 

 more commonly on Long Island, in the 

 Hudson valley, and in the warmer por- 

 tions of western New York. In these 

 localities it appears yearly in limited 

 numbers, usually in the months of July 

 and August. Dozens of records are 

 before me, the earliest being April 24, 

 and the latest December 28. Mr F, B. 

 Robinson of Newburgh reports a young 

 bird killed near Gardiner, Ulster county, 

 June I, 1904; and thinks this species 

 breeds in that locality, but the speci- 

 men referred to was old enough to have 

 flown hundreds of miles, and as yet we 

 lack definite proof of its breeding 

 within the limits of the State. 



Habits. This bird is the most 

 accomplished aeronaut among our birds 

 of prey. When rising from the ground 

 its initial flaps are hurried and somewhat ungainly, but when fairly under 

 way it sweeps in wide interlocking circles, higher and higher, with scarcely 



Turkey vulture. Cathartes aura septentrio- 



nalis (Wied). From specimen in the State Museum, 

 J nat. size 



