turkey vulture

noun

1. a blackish-brown vulture, Cathartes aura, from the southern U.S. to South America, having a bare, wrinkled, red head and neck.

Word History and Origins

Origin of turkey vulture¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon

They also recognized acorn woodpeckers, a California towhee, dozens of turkey vultures circling overhead, a dark-eyed junco, a mockingbird, an Anna’s hummingbird and a black phoebe.

From Los Angeles Times

Storks and turkey vultures urinate on their legs to keep cool, for example, and kangaroos lick their veiny forearms to keep them moist.

From Science Magazine

At first it felt scary to leave his caregivers, but Mackay gradually regained independence and delighted in “seeing the first daffodil of the season bloom, turkey vultures coming back in the summer.”

From Seattle Times

Black vultures have a massive 5 foot wing span, slighting smaller than the turkey vulture.

From Salon