BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. i8l 



78. Cathartes aura (Linn.). 

 Turkey Vulture. Turkey Buzzard. 



Casual visitor. 



The normal range of the Turkey Vulture on or near the Atlantic coast is 

 not believed to extend, at the present time, to the northward of New Jersey, but 

 the bird pays wandering and not so very infrequent visits to New England, usu- 

 ally in spring, summer or early autumn. It has been reported a number of times 

 from eastern Massachusetts and there are two apparently good records for the 

 Cambridge Region, one of a bird seen, by " a gentleman who is perfectly familiar 

 with the appearance '' of the species, " flying over the meadows at Waltham in 

 August, 1867,"! the other of three birds, observed by Mr. F. H. Hosmer, on 

 September 25, 1898, passing high in air towards the south over Somerville.^ 

 Early in April, 1893, Mr. Samuel Smith shot a Turkey Vulture in Weston, not 

 far from the confines of the Cambridge Region, merely breaking its wing and 

 afterwards keeping it in captivity for a year or more.^ 



To the instances already recorded of the occurrence of the Turkey Buzzard 

 in the more eastern parts of Massachusetts I take the present opportunity to 

 add that of a bird which Mr. William Stone and I saw on wing at South Yar- 

 mouth on September 6, 1903. Although flying at no great height, and in the 

 leisurely, effortless manner characteristic of all Vultures, it did not seem to be 

 looking for food, but rather to be journeying to some distant place, for it followed 

 a nearly straight course towards the northwest. After skirting the eastern 

 shores of a brackish sheet of water known as Swan Pond, and skimming close 

 over the tops of some pitch pines, it crossed an open field in which we were 

 standing, passing so near us that we made out the dark red coloring of its naked 

 head and neck with perfect distinctness. 



IC. J. Maynard, Naturalist's Guide, 1870, 137. 

 2 G. H. Mackay, Auk, XVI, 1899, 181. 

 'F. B. White, Auk, XI, 1894, 250. 



