Glossy Ibis – With Breeding Plumage ForagingPledgadis falcinellus April – Texas L=23” ...... WS=36” ...... WT=1.2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) The wisest of the Egyptian gods was Thoth, the patron of writing, astronomy, mathematics, law, magic, and healing. Thoth was usually depicted as an ibis headed man or as a full ibis. The ibis was relatively common throughout Egypt until the 19th Century, but now has almost disappeared. In North America during the 20th century the Glossy Ibis has gone from a rare species found predominately in Florida to a common breeder as far north as Maine This remarkable range expansion compares to the related White-faced Ibis which suffered greatly in the 1960's and 70's due to pesticides, draught, and drainage of mesting areas.
Black Vulture – SoaringCoragyps atratus April – Texas L=25”...... WS=59”....... WT=4.4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Black Vultures cannot find food by smell and so are not as adept at finding dead animals as the Turkey Vulture. Where their habitats overlap, which is a very broad area in the southern half of the U.S., Black Vultures will follow Turkey Vultures to find food. Then, even though they are slightly smaller, the Black Vultures will dominate the Turkey Vultures and take the food. Turkey Vultures compensate for this by hunting for small animals that can be eaten quickly. Black Vultures have a higher wing loading (total body weight to wing area) and thus require stronger thermals to soar and have to flap their wings more frequently, a very energy intensive action. Consequently, Black Vultures have to wait later in the day to start hunting and they cannot live as far north as Turkey Vultures who live over the entire continental U.S. and into Canada.
Turkey Vulture – SoaringCathartes aura February – Texas L=26”...... WS=67”....... WT=4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Vultures have naked heads and necks which allows them to insert their heads into dead animals without fouling feathers. While they prefer fresh dead they will eat animals in differing degrees of putrefaction. Since the availability of carrion is uncertain, vultures have adapted the ability to eat large quantities of food and then go several days before eating again. Turkey Vultures hunt by sight and smell, a trait most unusual for birds. This ability to smell allows Turkey Vultures to hunt in woodland settings where purely visual hunting would be impossible.
